This resonated with me because it highlights a trap that seems almost unavoidable: turning the search for freedom into another form of attachment. The ego is remarkably adaptable. If it can no longer identify with wealth, status, or achievement, it may simply reinvent itself as the person who is enlightened, awakened, or spiritually advanced.
I especially appreciate the reminder that practice is a means, not an end. Meditation, prayer, study, and ritual can be valuable tools, but they can also become subtle badges of identity if we're not careful. The Zen instruction to "kill the Buddha" isn't a rejection of wisdom; it's a warning against idolizing any idea, teacher, or version of ourselves.
The image of chopping wood and carrying water captures something profound. The ordinary tasks of life don't disappear after insight. What changes is our relationship to them. Perhaps enlightenment isn't escaping reality but meeting it more directly, without constantly trying to turn it into something else.
A thoughtful and humbling reflection. It reminds us that the deepest truths are often found not in extraordinary experiences, but in ordinary moments fully lived.
I am pleased you chose to use the small case “w” on the word “who.” It is a conceit of the egoic mind, the Phantom self, as Jung called this great body of acquired information from this world. It is a tool box for survival, not an identity. Who capital “W”, is our True Identity, the fractal of Source, the Infinite Self(capital “S”), eternal.
The title caught my eye. Years ago, struggling to move past my callow youth, I read a book by the same title by the therapist Sheldon Kopp. Kopp’s works made a lasting impression - thanks for the reminder.
Spiritual is just another phase in human development, as is sexual. You don't identify with the phase when you're really in it, unless you're not really in it. Jung's "fantasizing with light figures" is the reflection of not being there yet.
I appreciated this essay and find the message to be very needed for me and for others in the healing and awakening space. I myself am both a seeker and a therapist and guide for others on the path, and spiritual ego is a tricky ground in this space… I love how zen, from the little I understand, deals with this paradox. For me - as a therapist and guide there is kind of an inherent, “are you qualified” question that lends itself to identifying with practice or experience that separates you from your clients in some way… but I am not that. It’s easy to want to latch on to that identity sometimes. Even in writing this comment I’m like wait am I trying to prove I’m spiritual by replying???
lol. I guess either way, a practice that helps me with this practically is that each night before going to sleep I visualize throwing everything that is “not me” into a fire. Starting with say, my phone, my computer, my money, my home, my degrees, my relationships… all the way up to my body and the mind it contains. It’s oddly ecstatic and relieving.
I heard Henry Shukman speak on a podcast about how Zen kind of dissolves itself when you really get it, and I feel like this is what you’re speaking to… I’m curious, for those of us who are on a path is there anything zen encourages practitioners to do to assist in “killing the Buddha” for ourselves?
Doubt (Vicikicchā): Skeptical doubt regarding the Triple Gem (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha). This doubt disappears through the direct, personal realization of the Four Noble Truths. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlGIH15lJE&t=751]
Attachment to Rites and Rituals (Sīlabbata-parāmāsa): The belief that merely performing external rituals, ceremonies, or ascetic practices is sufficient to lead to enlightenment. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33]
Somewhere in my personal library is a book if you meet the Buddha on the road kill him! Since I’ve been into Eastern religions from 1973, when I read Alan Watts… I’m fairly familiar with this concept.
In Methunadhamma (Vinaypitaka) of Buddhism, Buddhist monk raped girl child, she died. Buddha said,"There is no crime causing expulsion from Buddhist Sangha". All 7 Buddhist countries are made after committing genocides of local tribes. Buddhism originated in ancient India roughly 2,500 years ago. Consider BUDDHISM as field guide for ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS.
4.4 billion creatures, comprising over 50% of the global population follow DESERT CULTS/CIRCUMCISED GANGS/Middle Eastern THINGS (JUDAISM=Source of Abrahamic cults, Christianity=Cheap copy of judaism, Islam=Judaism planted on Arab pagan culture) abuse vulnerable (WOMEN & CHILDREN). 𝑺𝒐, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 “𝑴𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑽𝑰𝑹𝑮𝑰𝑵 𝑭𝑼𝑪”𝑬𝑹 𝒁𝑶𝑴𝑩𝑰𝑬 𝑱𝑬𝑺𝑼𝑺 𝑪𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻” 𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝑨𝑷”𝑺𝑻 𝘼𝙍𝘼𝘽 𝑴𝑼𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑫 𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝑶”𝑲 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑼𝑴 & 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 “𝑶𝒍𝒂𝒎 𝑯𝒂-𝑩𝒂” 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
Certain groups (WHITES OF EUROPE & ISLAMISTS of Middle East) have normalized this idea that everyone must collectively take responsibility, regardless of actual involvement. So, FUCK WORLD WARS, FUCK HOLOCAUST, FUCK PALESTINE & FINAL FUCK goes to CIRCUMCISED GANGS (JUDAISM, Christianity, Islam).
“Everything happening in America is designed to benefit Europe, directly or indirectly, WORLD POLITICS & RELIGION ARE JUST THEATRICS”.
This resonated with me because it highlights a trap that seems almost unavoidable: turning the search for freedom into another form of attachment. The ego is remarkably adaptable. If it can no longer identify with wealth, status, or achievement, it may simply reinvent itself as the person who is enlightened, awakened, or spiritually advanced.
I especially appreciate the reminder that practice is a means, not an end. Meditation, prayer, study, and ritual can be valuable tools, but they can also become subtle badges of identity if we're not careful. The Zen instruction to "kill the Buddha" isn't a rejection of wisdom; it's a warning against idolizing any idea, teacher, or version of ourselves.
The image of chopping wood and carrying water captures something profound. The ordinary tasks of life don't disappear after insight. What changes is our relationship to them. Perhaps enlightenment isn't escaping reality but meeting it more directly, without constantly trying to turn it into something else.
A thoughtful and humbling reflection. It reminds us that the deepest truths are often found not in extraordinary experiences, but in ordinary moments fully lived.
There is no trap. There is Infinite Consciousness
Yes. I think that if Ramakrishna had been asked that same question. He would have responded, “What happens to who?”
I am pleased you chose to use the small case “w” on the word “who.” It is a conceit of the egoic mind, the Phantom self, as Jung called this great body of acquired information from this world. It is a tool box for survival, not an identity. Who capital “W”, is our True Identity, the fractal of Source, the Infinite Self(capital “S”), eternal.
One of my favourite Zen teachings.
Not because it is anti-Buddhist, but because it is anti-idolatry.
The Buddha becomes a problem the moment he is somewhere else.
The guru becomes a problem the moment they replace your own discernment.
The belief becomes a problem the moment questioning it becomes forbidden.
“Kill the Buddha” is not about destroying wisdom.
It is about destroying the things standing between you and direct experience.
Every path eventually asks the same thing:
Stop worshipping the map.
Look at the road.
The title caught my eye. Years ago, struggling to move past my callow youth, I read a book by the same title by the therapist Sheldon Kopp. Kopp’s works made a lasting impression - thanks for the reminder.
Spiritual is just another phase in human development, as is sexual. You don't identify with the phase when you're really in it, unless you're not really in it. Jung's "fantasizing with light figures" is the reflection of not being there yet.
Why i love Zen
I'm so Buddha I'm not Buddha
Beautiful one.
I appreciated this essay and find the message to be very needed for me and for others in the healing and awakening space. I myself am both a seeker and a therapist and guide for others on the path, and spiritual ego is a tricky ground in this space… I love how zen, from the little I understand, deals with this paradox. For me - as a therapist and guide there is kind of an inherent, “are you qualified” question that lends itself to identifying with practice or experience that separates you from your clients in some way… but I am not that. It’s easy to want to latch on to that identity sometimes. Even in writing this comment I’m like wait am I trying to prove I’m spiritual by replying???
lol. I guess either way, a practice that helps me with this practically is that each night before going to sleep I visualize throwing everything that is “not me” into a fire. Starting with say, my phone, my computer, my money, my home, my degrees, my relationships… all the way up to my body and the mind it contains. It’s oddly ecstatic and relieving.
I heard Henry Shukman speak on a podcast about how Zen kind of dissolves itself when you really get it, and I feel like this is what you’re speaking to… I’m curious, for those of us who are on a path is there anything zen encourages practitioners to do to assist in “killing the Buddha” for ourselves?
A Stream-Enterer (Pali: Sotāpanna) is an individual who has attained the first of four stages of enlightenment in Buddhism. Literally meaning "one who has entered the stream," they are guaranteed to reach full liberation (Nirvana) within a maximum of seven lifetimes. [https://buddho.org/from-stream-enterer-to-arahant-the-four-stages-of-liberation/, https://www.learnreligions.com/srotapanna-the-stream-enterer-4015169, https://sasanarakkha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Guaranteed-for-Stream-Entry-Before-Death-by-Aggacitta-Bhikkhu-July-2015.pdf, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0e_zN4xa2k&t=2]
The Three Eradicated Fetters
To achieve stream-entry, a practitioner must break the first three of the ten mental "fetters" (or chains) that bind beings to the cycle of rebirth: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlGIH15lJE&t=751, https://tricycle.org/article/what-is-stream-entry/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0e_zN4xa2k&t=2, https://sasanarakkha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Guaranteed-for-Stream-Entry-Before-Death-by-Aggacitta-Bhikkhu-July-2015.pdf]
Identity View (Sakkāya-diṭṭhi): The belief that there is an inherent, permanent, and unchanging "self" or "soul." The Stream-Enterer directly experiences that body and mind are impermanent, impersonal aggregates. [https://www.reddit.com/r/theravada/comments/18r1yas/how_does_one_become_a_streamenterer/, https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/51537/what-does-one-contemplate-to-become-a-sot%C4%81panna, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlGIH15lJE&t=751]
Doubt (Vicikicchā): Skeptical doubt regarding the Triple Gem (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha). This doubt disappears through the direct, personal realization of the Four Noble Truths. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlGIH15lJE&t=751]
Attachment to Rites and Rituals (Sīlabbata-parāmāsa): The belief that merely performing external rituals, ceremonies, or ascetic practices is sufficient to lead to enlightenment. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33]
Core Characteristics
Because of their profound shift in perspective, a Sotāpanna naturally possesses several unshakeable qualities: [https://buddho.org/from-stream-enterer-to-arahant-the-four-stages-of-liberation/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33]
Unwavering Faith: They have absolute, verified confidence in the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of noble practitioners. [https://buddho.org/from-stream-enterer-to-arahant-the-four-stages-of-liberation/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0e_zN4xa2k&t=2]
Impeccable Morality: They are physically, verbally, and mentally incapable of violating the five basic precepts (i.e., not killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, or consuming intoxicants). [https://buddho.org/from-stream-enterer-to-arahant-the-four-stages-of-liberation/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0e_zN4xa2k&t=2]
Irreversibility: The insight they have gained into the nature of reality is permanent. They will never regress to an ordinary, unenlightened state of mind. [https://buddho.org/from-stream-enterer-to-arahant-the-four-stages-of-liberation/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCmTyYiLVk&t=33]
Variations of Stream-Enterers
According to Buddhist texts, Stream-Enterers are categorized into three types based on how many lifetimes they will require to achieve full awakening: [https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/Sotapanna, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0e_zN4xa2k&t=2]
The Seven-Rebirth-at-the-Most (Sattakkhattu-parama): Will be reborn a maximum of seven times in human or heavenly realms before attaining Nirvana.
From Family to Family (Kolankola): Will be reborn two to three times, moving between noble (advanced) families.
The One-Seed (Eka-bījī): Will take exactly one more human rebirth before reaching final liberation.
Spirituality gets weird the moment the ego learns Sanskrit.
The trap isn’t wanting to wake up. The trap is becoming very impressed with yourself for wanting to wake up.
the only way to "get there" is through everyday activities. here we have no well, so I had to devise a substitute for drawing water.
thenks for these accurate vie#ws!
Somewhere in my personal library is a book if you meet the Buddha on the road kill him! Since I’ve been into Eastern religions from 1973, when I read Alan Watts… I’m fairly familiar with this concept.
Even adhering to the path is attachment 🌈
A different take on Buddha’s early life:
https://jeemteamwrites.substack.com/p/before-enlightenment-part-1?r=69jbhp&utm_medium=ios
In Methunadhamma (Vinaypitaka) of Buddhism, Buddhist monk raped girl child, she died. Buddha said,"There is no crime causing expulsion from Buddhist Sangha". All 7 Buddhist countries are made after committing genocides of local tribes. Buddhism originated in ancient India roughly 2,500 years ago. Consider BUDDHISM as field guide for ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS.
𝗭𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁.
ISLAM IS CURSE ON THE PLANET.
𝐈𝐟 𝐙𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐌 (𝐉𝐄𝐖ISH Perpetrators) 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓/EUROPE, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐎𝐌𝐁 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄. 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 & 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.
𝐙𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 & 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐙𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀.
4.4 billion creatures, comprising over 50% of the global population follow DESERT CULTS/CIRCUMCISED GANGS/Middle Eastern THINGS (JUDAISM=Source of Abrahamic cults, Christianity=Cheap copy of judaism, Islam=Judaism planted on Arab pagan culture) abuse vulnerable (WOMEN & CHILDREN). 𝑺𝒐, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 “𝑴𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑽𝑰𝑹𝑮𝑰𝑵 𝑭𝑼𝑪”𝑬𝑹 𝒁𝑶𝑴𝑩𝑰𝑬 𝑱𝑬𝑺𝑼𝑺 𝑪𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻” 𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝑨𝑷”𝑺𝑻 𝘼𝙍𝘼𝘽 𝑴𝑼𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑫 𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝑶”𝑲 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑼𝑴 & 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 “𝑶𝒍𝒂𝒎 𝑯𝒂-𝑩𝒂” 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
Certain groups (WHITES OF EUROPE & ISLAMISTS of Middle East) have normalized this idea that everyone must collectively take responsibility, regardless of actual involvement. So, FUCK WORLD WARS, FUCK HOLOCAUST, FUCK PALESTINE & FINAL FUCK goes to CIRCUMCISED GANGS (JUDAISM, Christianity, Islam).
“Everything happening in America is designed to benefit Europe, directly or indirectly, WORLD POLITICS & RELIGION ARE JUST THEATRICS”.