Zen & Absurdism

Two distinct philosophical traditions, one from the east, another from the west but absurdism can be described as a logical and non-transcedental version of Zen, where the absurd accepts and lives his life without seeking some higher goal - although they seek meaning. Ironically Zen preaches the same, the concept of enlightenment is shunned by 'realized' Zen teachers.


Accordingly, absurdism is a philosophical school of thought stating that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd) because the sheer amount of information as well as the vast realm of the unknown make total certainty impossible. As a philosophy, absurdism furthermore explores the fundamental nature of the Absurd and how individuals, once becoming conscious of the Absurd, should respond to it. The absurdist philosopher Albert Camus stated that individuals should embrace the absurd condition of human existence while also defiantly continuing to explore and search for meaning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism


Zen teacher Huangbo: "Like an idiot almost you are"

As of now, at all times, whether walking-standing-sitting-reclining, learn no-mind. Which is also no-discrimination, also no-dependence, also no-attachment. Throughout the day freely let the function be robust. Like an idiot almost you are. All the worldly people can’t recognise you, and you also have no need of them recognising you or not. With the mind like a hard rock, totally without gap or crack, all dharma can’t penetrate through to enter your mind. And suddenly, attachment is no more. Only like this is it the beginning of some resonance.

 

If you have a fountain plug it - let the fountain rest (c)

 

'In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's, there are few."
-Shunryu Sukuki

 

Absurdist class.

 

Interesting, I had recently been explaining that after checking most things out I found epicureanism the most natural and easiest to live with.

I had not really considered that a significant amount of the absurdist is also involved.

 

"individuals should embrace the absurd condition of human existence while also defiantly continuing to explore and search for meaning."

So basically same as trading.

 

We used to call this existentialism, when did we change the name to absurdism?

 

When you take out all hope and sense out of existentialism, you get absurdism

 

Ah. I didn't get that out of Camus but I do now recall him calling his brand of existentialism absurdist.