Zen Buddhism and Bart Simpson? :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Zen Buddhism and bar peerlesst Simpson?profs comment The following essay is yet one of a series of mind-bending ones that Rob wrote for my class, essays that demonstrated not just a quirky sense of humor but also a razor-sharp in sortect and distinctive voice. This particular essay was written in answer to an assignment asking students to condone a concept. From the first line of this essay, I knew I was on to something special how many people would choose to explain an element of Zen Buddhism using Bart Simpson? And the essay does not disappoint. Bart Simpson, Americas favorite animated smart-aleck kid, replied to the famous question What is the sonorous of one hand clapping? by slapping the fingers of his reform hand against his right palm, creating a loose flapping noise. Ask around and youll find only a few people with this talent (I am one of the easy ones able to accomplish this feat). But the question becomes am I and my workfellow smug-single-hand-clappers missing the point? That, my friend, is a darn good question. The sound of one hand clappingis a koan. Zen Buddhist masters use these chimerical stories or questions to force their pupils to slough reason in favor of abrupt enlightenment. Koans are designed to be nonsensical, shocking, or humorous. So are koans terrible or fun? Another good question, but a strikingly Western one. Why must seriousness and fun be mutually exclusive? Why are we so serious about whether seriousness and fun are mutually exclusive? All koans. We Americans can mulct a lot by studying these little buggers. Pure mind has failed to answer questions of how, or more importantly, whywe should live. Sadly, many people also chew the fat learning (or thinking) as a dry, boring act. Perhaps our teachers need to tell us not merely what they do know, but what they dont know. Zen masters were not afraid to do as much. Koans goldbrick up on you. Each koan is a well-wrapped chocolate Easter clod of wisdom th at reveals itself in layers. The first is either pure titillation, or a slap in the face. Try to read the following without smirking (1) Wakuan complained when he proverb a picture of bearded Bodhidarma, Why hasnt that fellow a beard?1 (2) A student asked Joshu, If I havent anything in my mind, what shall I do?