What is the secret of (Zen) wisdom?

:)) that thing about 'a man who attained enlightenment doesn't burn books' came to my mind too! nice synchronicity going on:)) recently I came across an interesting story that says just about what your zen story is saying. You can see it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7icAFa8fdLY and here (it's in 2 parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymdkfDVm-E People carry too much baggage around. Wise men travel light, so their road is easy. Of course, at that point (enlightenment) you know you don't need anything, so it comes naturally to 'travel light'. It's harder for us, the others. We still need the books... even the zen master first studied (books and his own self) and THEN attained enlightenment.

Hi VVroom, okay, anyone who burns books can not be enlightened (joke, poor one in light of your discussion but it was the first thing that came to my head). Having said that, my response to your discussions is as follows. The philosopher, if truly devoting himself to the study of Zen would realize that only by focusing on himself, through meditation and not seeking any external answers could he truly become enlightened. If one were to follow the true path of Zen teachings, then the written book would have no merit to attaining enlightment. So, if upon his enlightenment, he may have burned all his books as they were external influences. So in relation to everyday life, the answers we seek are within ourselves and not to let the external forces get in the way of our way of life.

In short it sounds like his message was that it was all for nothing, but I think the meaning is much deeper. In his mind I believe he had achieved his full state of enlightenment and he had at that moment surpassed all knowledge on the earthly plain. I believe enlightenment can be different for every person on this planet, for the racing driver it can be driving at 250 MPH, but for the zoologist it may be finding a new species, the point is for each of us enlightenment comes in very different ways. Perhaps for the racing driver it is driving at 200 MPH moments before that fatal crash, taking everything of value on the earthly plane with him, the excitement, the crowd, the noise, etc. Neither is my course to wisdom.

I also like this longer version, of it as told by Anthony de Mello in his book, "The Song of the Bird". The Zen Master Munan sent for his disciple Shoju one day and said, “/ am an old man now, Shoju, and it is you who will carry on this teaching. Here is a book that has been handed down from Master to Master for seven generations. I have myself added some notes to it that you will find valuable. Here, keep it with you as a sign that I have made you my successor.” “You had better keep the book yourself,” said Shoju. “/ received your Zen without the help of written words, and I am quite content to let it be that way.” “I know, I know,” said Munan patiently. “Even so, the book has served seven generations and may be helpful to you too. Here, keep it with you.” The two happened to be talking near the fire-place. The instant the book touched Shoju’s hand he flung it into the fire. He had no lust for written words. Munan, who was never known to be angry before shouted, “You must be crazy! What are you doing?” Shoju shouted back, “You are crazy yourself! What are you saying?”

There is some other underlying message here, underlying the apparent wastage of his books, which could perhaps have been given to one of the other monks, or scholars to benefit from, what is it? To me, this is about the fact that he has used his mind until now, but having reached enlightenment, going past his mind and where it could take him to, he knew then that he knew it all now all inwardly, and that his books could only place into his mind again what was already in his heart. They were unnecessary to him now. This story is symbolic in the sense that we can’t burn our mind as such, but surely the reverse is true. Our mind can be allowed to burn us, if we let it. The ultimate burning though comes from enlightenment, and this too is another paradox that the mind can never work out. The fire in your heart never goes out. It just burns brighter when the dampness of your mind is removed from its smothering of it.