Is Zazen politically radical?
Zen's role in politics has been discussed here quite frequently (to the chagrin of many of course), but this just might be a new, unexpected perspective on the topic.
Let me quote the statement that prompted this post, from a Dharma talk by Gendo Roshi*:
"Sitting Zazen is politically the most radical action a person can take"
What may sound counterintuitive on its face becomes more clear as he puts it into the context of our current political climate.
Paraphrasing: when a government deliberately creates chaos and polarization, our mind tends to lose focus and become unable to set priorities, therefore ultimately becoming increasingly passive.
So the more sensationalist information is fed to our monkey minds, the easier we become distracted, and the more likely it is that concerning power grabs or breathtaking corruption by our leaders go unnoticed (e.g. the Trump family quietly making billions off of the Presidency, or government insiders making millions by betting on the oil price). Even worse, we may become completely overwhelmed or even defeatist. And this is precisely what the authoritarian and / or corrupt leader wants.
The calm or — to borrow a term from Takuan Soho — unfettered mind however allows us to see clearly what is going on without getting triggered by emotions or caught up in narratives, and thus to remain firm in our positions and views.
It’s kryptonite to populists and those who seek authoritarian power.
(I can’t help but wonder if this is the very reason buddhism / chan / zen has been often a thorn in the eye of ruling classes throughout history)
So yes, especially in these times and in this media environment, I agree that Zazen may indeed be up there with the most radical political actions a person can take. To be clear though: he specifically talked about daily Zazen, at least once, preferably twice, as a lifelong commitment. Thoughts?
*Great Wave Zen Sangha, Michigan
