21st Century Koans
Jim Matson
In this culture, at this time, we are presented with questions that have been with us as people for a very long time. Questions we seem able to ignore or pass over for long stretches. Indeed our ability to ignore these questions seems remarkable.
Why do people suffer?
Why is there such pervasive conflict in the world and in me?
What is the proper action to take in my life that will end this suffering - that will resolve this conflict?
And I think that the reason we are able to ignore these questions is that we all have answers. Don't we? If you are a Democrat, the suffering and conflict in the world are due to the Republicans. Unless of course you happen to be a Republican in which case the Democrats are at the root of it. If you are a Jew its due to the Palestinians. Unless of course you happen to be a Palestinian. If you are an American or Western European its the Middle Eastern folks [in my day it was the Communists, but they have lost their red luster]. Within our communities the answer is seen to be the politicians, or the black/brown/white/yellow people or the gay/straight people or the immigrants. On a personal level we see the source of this suffering and conflict in our relationships with others. The source is my spouse [or ex spouse], my boss, my teacher, my neighbor and so on and so on and so on. On a religious level its sin or the devil or bad karma.
We all have answers. These answers are set into us as beliefs. Ideas and concepts and labels and formulations about this "outer" world - this independent and separate world that produces all of this conflict and suffering and misery. And these answers, these beliefs are programmed into us - by our culture, by our parents, by our traditions. And to open up those answers, to return to those questions without our answers, our beliefs, is disquieting. And since my beliefs and answers differ from yours, we are in conflict.
To get a sense of how pervasive this is, right now having read all of this, there is a response. OK, what is the answer to all of this? How do I get beyond this? Do you notice this? Do you notice how our thought is so heavily conditioned to demand answers? And how disconcerting and unsettling it is to be without formulations and answers?
As human beings we are adept at solving problems, at coming up with answers. And this ability has served us quite well. In technology, in science, in transportation, in medicine our ability to solve problems is amazing. But in this area of understanding suffering & conflict we seem to be unable to come to any lasting resolution.
Why?
Zen is known for asking impossible questions - koans. But this is not an artificial question. This is the fundamental question, the fundamental koan.
Why is there suffering and conflict?
Have a seat. We provide the cushions.
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