OK, DPZ, I will jump in.
You appear to be a pretty thorough and astute person. I will assume that you do not want to move from your current residence. Locate the nearest Zen Center that seems OK to you and go do group Zazen, sesshins, etc. with them. Treat everything that happens thereafter as grist for the mill of your awakening. Best regards, ED --- In [email protected], Dave Lochhaas <lochhaas.d@...> wrote: > > Hi, am new to this group, about a week or so now, and the subject has come up which led me to this group to begin with. It seems some opinions are that lineage and authentic Zen masters are required, if not mandatory, for one to advance along the path of Zen. I have several questions regarding that thought but first let me make my disclaimer. > > I try to do my best to say what I mean but important to me in the use and understanding of words is the recognition of the honesty, truthfulness, and intent behind the words. Most important to me is the quality of the words of others, not the quantity. So these are my questions (honestly): > > 1. Is an "authentic Zen master" required? > 2. Does this master have to have a lineage? > 3. How does one find such a master? > 4. Who or what authenticates this master? > 5. What are the qualities that make a master? > 6. Being part of a lineage, is that enough? > > Answers I've already discarded: > 1. You'll know one when you see one. This is similar to "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." (How is one that is still learning expected to recognize a master?) > 2. A "Master" can be recognized by the quantity of students? > 3. A "Master" will identify himself as such. > > My personal "current" operating answers: > 1. The path of Zen is clear. It is zazen. All that is required is to just sit. > 2. A teacher is one who maintains a low profile, is humble, and does not market himself (herself) or allow others to do so for them. > 3. A teacher, among other things, has qualities that I would like to have in myself. > 4. Arrogance, pride, aggressiveness, demands of respect or worship, unseemly wealth, conspicuous consumption, markets several books a year, etc., all these are signs of someone who is not a master. > 5. Zen is not complicated. It becomes complicated when it is intellectualized. > > Thanks for comments. Zen is for everyone so treat me as a simple and uncomplicated child. > > Best regards, > DPZ
