Excerpt from Zen Keys : Thich Nhat Hanh : “If you meet the Buddha, Kill Him”

“According to Buddhism, knowledge is the greatest obstacle to awakening. If we are trapped by our knowledge we will not have the possibility of going beyond it and realizing awakening. When we believe something to be the absolute truth and cling to it, we cannot be open to new ideas. Even if truth itself is knocking at our door, we will not let it in. The Zen student must strive to be free of attachments to knowledge and be open so that truth may enter. The teacher must also help in these efforts. Zen master Lin Chi once said: “If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet the Patriarch, kill the Patriarch”. For one who only has devotion, this declaration is terribly confusing. But its effect depends on the mentality and capacity of the one who hears. If the student is strong, she will have the capacity to liberate herself from all authority and realize ulitmate reality in herself. Truth is not a concept. If we cling to our concepts, we lose reality. That is why it is necessary to “kill” our concepts so that reality can reveal itself. To kill the Buddha is the only way to see the Buddha. Any concept we have of the Buddha can impede us from seeing the Buddha in person”

3 thoughts on “Excerpt from Zen Keys : Thich Nhat Hanh : “If you meet the Buddha, Kill Him””

  1. yes i like it…but last sentence is confusing to the previously said:

    “Any concept we have of the Buddha can impede us from seeing the Buddha in person”

    first, you dont “see” the buddha, that would still be the buddha with form (seen in mind i.e.), buddha can only be experienced, meaning yogi rests in his true nature, pure consciousness, consciousness without a form…

    second “in person” has to refer to the yogi, obviously, not the buddha! as buddha is not a person, its consciousness without form (=limitations)

    cheers and OM

    1. Hi there thomas.. the quote is from Thich Nhat Hanh the Zen Master .. I unfortunately was not able to come up with this lovely insight ! Yes any way kill it and him too !! Here’s to Space .. and I dont mean the opening of Space the nightclub in Ibiza .. in case you needed some clarification

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