Ah yes, the noble art of frying your brain on purpose — Zen-style.
This was a beautiful write-up, truly. Like being smacked with a sandal by a grinning master just as you thought you were about to be handed the secret to the universe. You captured the trickster essence of the koan perfectly — that maddening, holy nonsense that short-circuits our sacred logic processors and leaves us blinking in the mystery.
And yes, you did intellectualize the crap out of Zen. But so did Alan Watts. And Suzuki. And half the monks I know who secretly hoard commentaries like they’re ancient Pokémon cards. The important part is you did it with humility and a wink, knowing full well you were already losing the game by playing.
My only koan for you, dear Zen Psychedelic:
If a mind is blown in the forest but nobody’s around to interpret it,
“ This koan exposes the perils of making assumptions and reveals the limits of perception. The blind man believes that carrying the lantern will prevent people from bumping into him — but he never actually confirms the candle is lit in the first place.
It's a lesson in self-awareness, humility, and the danger of unexamined beliefs. It’s easy to blame others when things go wrong rather than examining our own assumptions.
It begs the question: Who is truly blind? The man who cannot see? Or the one who assumes he is being seen?”
Da sound of one hand clapping is a high five …
Ah yes, the noble art of frying your brain on purpose — Zen-style.
This was a beautiful write-up, truly. Like being smacked with a sandal by a grinning master just as you thought you were about to be handed the secret to the universe. You captured the trickster essence of the koan perfectly — that maddening, holy nonsense that short-circuits our sacred logic processors and leaves us blinking in the mystery.
And yes, you did intellectualize the crap out of Zen. But so did Alan Watts. And Suzuki. And half the monks I know who secretly hoard commentaries like they’re ancient Pokémon cards. The important part is you did it with humility and a wink, knowing full well you were already losing the game by playing.
My only koan for you, dear Zen Psychedelic:
If a mind is blown in the forest but nobody’s around to interpret it,
does it still count as enlightenment?
Mu. 🌀
ASSUMPTIONS ✨happen often !
“ This koan exposes the perils of making assumptions and reveals the limits of perception. The blind man believes that carrying the lantern will prevent people from bumping into him — but he never actually confirms the candle is lit in the first place.
It's a lesson in self-awareness, humility, and the danger of unexamined beliefs. It’s easy to blame others when things go wrong rather than examining our own assumptions.
It begs the question: Who is truly blind? The man who cannot see? Or the one who assumes he is being seen?”