Nietzsche + Zen = An Awakened Nietzsche!

become who you are Friedrich n to study the Buddha way is to study the self to study the self is to forget the self dogen zenji the quest to understand the self is an intellectual and spiritual journey that has been undertaken by philosophers and thinkers from vastly different cultures and times among the most interesting thinkers and two who perhaps best represent the Western and Eastern cultural responses to this question are Friedrich nicher and dogen zenji they best epitomize the two primary approaches to the [Music] self nicher was a 19th century German philosopher dogen zenji was a 13th century Japanese Zen Buddhist monk nich's philosophy of the self was one of self-overcoming and the revaluation of values whereas dogen's philosophy of the self was one of self- understanding and the realization of the interdependence of all things in this video we are going to examine n and dogen's philosophies of the self we will examine how these two approaches when combined can provide a life that is not only deeply contemplative but also vibrantly creative we will Begin by looking at the concept and realization of the self as being empty the concept of The Emptiness of the self is an area where n and dogen will be seen to intersect we will see how dogen's recognition of the empty self as pure potentiality can also paradoxically help us realize ne's philosophy of self-creation if you enjoy this discussion and video of the spiritual and philosophical comparison of Friedrich nicher and dogen zenji you may want to visit our online bookstore asangoham books there you will find curated book lists on spiritual ity and philosophy we add books lists every day so a sangam books always has new offerings you can find the link to a sangam books in the description to this video nich's concept of self-overcoming represents a radical departure from traditional Western thought it represents a philosophical reimagining of the self not as a static unchanging entity but as a Dynamic constantly evolving process this view of the self is a Cornerstone of ne's wider philosophical project it serves as the gateway to ne's further critical examinations of morality truth and the meaning of existence previously in the west conceptions of the self were grounded on a notion of a stable enduring identity which was strongly rooted in religious or metaphysical Frameworks n rejected the idea of an immutable human nature instead he said that the self was shaped by an array of forces cultural social psychological and physiological thus the self is not a given fact but a creation it is continually forged and reforged in The Crucible of life's experiences and challenges Central to this process is the concept of self-overcoming or SST Uber winding this self-overcoming invol involves a continual process of questioning challenging and transcending one's existing values and beliefs self-overcoming is not a journey with a final destination but an ongoing Endeavor where the goal is not to find absolute truths but to engage in a Perpetual revaluation and Recreation of values n's concepts of becoming who you are and self-overcoming are intricately related and Central to his philosophic iCal discourse on personal development and authenticity becoming who you are is a process of self-discovery and actualization in becoming who they are individuals Embrace their inherent potential and unique qualities unhindered by societal Norms or conventional morality this process is inherently linked to self-overcoming which is the active continual effort to challenge and transcend one's existing limitations belie beliefs and values becoming who you are isn't a passive realization of a pre-existing identity but an active creation of oneself through the Relentless process of self-overcoming becoming who you are and self-overcoming are closely intertwined with nich's critique of Christianity and his Declaration of the death of God for Nicha the death of God signifies the end of absolute externally imposed values and truths this vacuum of absolute values necessitates a re-evaluation and creation of new values a task that falls to the individual n's critique is not just a rejection of Christian morality but an invitation to create a new moral framework one that is grounded in the realities of human life and experience rather than in religious or metaphysical absolutes the ultimate embodiment of self-overcoming is the Uber mench or Overman the Uber mench represents n's vision of a future type of human being who has transcended the limitations of conventional morality and beliefs this figure is not a fixed ideal but a symbol of the potential for human evolution an Exemplar of what Humanity might become through the process of self-overcoming the Uber mench embodies a new set of values ones that affirm life embrace the will to power and finds meaning in the Earthly the temp tempal and the human Nature's concept of self-overcoming has profound implications for how we understand the self and its place in the world it challenges us to see ourselves not as finished products but as Works in progress always capable of growth and transformation this perspective encourages a form of existential courage where individuals take responsibility for their own development crafting their lives and ident identities through their choices actions and the values they create and uphold nich's philosophy thus represents a call to embrace the challenge of becoming to engage actively in the shaping of oneself and in doing so to participate in the ongoing evolution of humanity itself in other words we are always in the process of growing up individually and collectively this concept of growing up is one that we will examine in more detail further in the video dogen presents a philosophical and spiritual approach to the self that is deeply embedded in the principles of Zen unlike Western conceptions of the self which focus on individualism and identity dogen's perspective is intrinsically linked to the fundamental principles of Buddhism his teaching is encapsulated in the phrase to study Buddhism is to study the self to study the self is to forget the self this phase provides a profound insight into the nature of self-awareness from a Zen Buddhist Viewpoint this approach is not just a philosophical stance but a practical path towards Enlightenment dogen's philosophy revolves around the idea that understanding the self is a journey into the depths of One's Own existence this paradoxically leads to the realization of no self or anata for dogen the self is not an isolated entity but part of the larger constantly changing tapestry of existence this understanding challenges the notion of a fixed independent self and replaces it with a vision of the self as interdependent and transient the self is seen not as an autonomous being but as a Nexus of relationships and processes the process of forgetting the self as dogen puts it is not about negating or annihilating self but transcending the ego centered view of existence it's about seeing beyond the illusion of a separate enduring self and recognizing the fluid impermanent nature of all existence this shift in perspective brings about a transformation in how one experiences the world it leads to a state of Awakening where the artificial distinction between self and other dissolves dogen's path to understanding the self begins with zazen or seated meditation this is the primary means by which one cultivates their study of the self zazen is not merely a practice of quiet contemplation but an active engagement in the momentto moment reality of existence through this practice one learns to observe the workings of the mind and the transient nature of thoughts and perceptions leading to a deeper understanding of the self's true nature in other words through this practice of Zin We Begin the process of waking up we will examine this notion of waking up and its relation to Growing Up in more detail further in the video nich's view on suffering is intricately linked to his concept of self-overcoming and personal growth he posits that suffering is an essential aspect of human existence serving as a catalyst for personal development and self- transformation in Nature's philosophy enduring and overcoming suffering are crucial in the process of becoming the Uber mench or Overman this perspective sees suffering not as something to be avoided but as something that can be harnessed for personal growth and the development of strength and resilience in the words of n that have become well known and often quoted what does not kill me makes me stronger in other words nich's attitude to suffering is to embrace an affirm life in all its aspects including its hardship and pain dogen's perspective on suffering is completely the opposite it is rooted in Buddhist understandings of suffering that is that suffering can most definitely be vanquished dogen understands suffering as caused and thus can be uncaused he sees those causes of suffering as attachment ignorance and most essentially the feeling that one is a separate self thus for dogen the overcoming and vanquishing of suffering is achieved by the realization of no self or anata and the subsequent realization of interconnectedness of all existence dogen does not see suffering as n does that is as a tool for growth rather he sees suffering as utterly unnecessary the result of a lack of an understanding as to the true nature of reality these different interpretations of the meaning of suffering for nche and dogen highlight a fundamental and more General difference in cultural understandings of the meaning of human existence cultural understandings of the meaning of existence that have been held for thousands of years ne's Embrace of suffering as a means of empowerment and self-actualization is an existential and individualistic understanding of the meaning of existence it is a philosophy that encourages individuals to confront and integrate suffering as part of their personal Journey towards self-mastery and the creation of a meaningful life this tends to align with Western values of personal freedom and agency triumph over adversity and a culture of winning at all costs despite their differing cultural and philosophical backgrounds n and dogen Converge on the idea that the self is not a static isolated entity rather both see the self as empty of any enduring entity for dogen the notion of an empty self is a direct reflection of the Buddhist concept of sunata or emptiness this understanding does not imply non-existence but rather the absence of a permanent unchanging self- nature in the Zen Buddhist tradition realizing this emptiness of self is Central to achieving Awakening an Awakening that engenders a sense of humility compassion and a profound engagement with the present moment nich's interpretation of the empty self diverges significantly in its existential context but arrives at a somewhat parallel conclusion his view of the self as a dynamic ever evolving process implies that it is empty of any inherent unchanging Essence this emptiness however ficha is not a source of Despair but a space of potentiality and creation it allows for the continuous self-overcoming and revaluation of values that n Advocates enabling individuals to actively shape their own identity and Destiny for n this leads to a life lived with intensity creativity and authenticity a life where one constantly transcends the limitations of conventional morality and societal Norms can these two life philosophies be combined to form a way of life that is is both Dynamic and deeply connected yes however dogen's teaching and the realization of The Emptiness of the self more generally must serve as the prerequisite or prior understanding before nichan self-overcoming and its creative force can be fully embodied this is because it is only in the recognition of the empty nature of the self that it becomes possible for individuals to free themselves from rigid self-concepts and societ constructs in other words the transformative and very worthwhile Journey that n is suggesting is only possible with the mental and emotional flexibility that one gains from the radical insight into the emptiness of self Ken Wilber is an American philosopher and writer known for his work in integrating various fields of knowledge and experience including science and religion into a comprehensive framework called integral Theory Wilbur articulates a a compelling argument about two fundamental dimensions of human development waking up and growing up waking up refers to spiritual or Transcendent experiences a process often found in eastern spiritual Traditions which involves realizing a deeper more unified State of Consciousness beyond the ego in other words realizing the emptiness of self and world as in dogen's teachings growing up refers to psychological and emotional development a concept more aligned with Western psychological understandings encompassing the evolution of one's cognitive and moral faculties through various stages of life in other words overcoming oneself and realizing all of one's creative potentials as in ne's philosophy Wilbur argues that both these dimensions are crucial for holistic human development yet they are often pursued independently He suggests that true development requ requires advancing in both Realms concurrently for a more comprehensive and balanced growth one of the major challenges in the nichan path of self-overcoming is the attachment to fixed identities and beliefs dogen's teaching of emptiness addresses this by revealing that these identities and beliefs are not only impermanent but also interdependent this realization cultivates an openness and fluidity in one's perception of self and the world making it easier to embrace n's idea of constant Evolution and revaluation of values dogen's emphasis on interconnectedness engenders a sense of empathy and compassion understanding The Emptiness of the self deepens one's appreciation for the interconnected nature of all beings fostering a compassionate approach to life this compassion is crucial when engaging in nich and self-overcoming as it ensures es that the pursuit of personal growth and creativity is not at the expense of others but is harmonized with the well-being of all suffering Nature's philosophy encourages embracing life's challenges as opportunities for growth however this can be daunting and may lead to increased suffering if undertaken without a foundational understanding of the self's nature dogen's teachings help in recognizing the sources of suffering attachment ignorance and the illusion of a separate self this understanding is vital to reduce unnecessary suffering thus creating a more conducive mental and emotional space for engaging in Nature's demanding process of self-overcoming and creative expression mindfulness a key aspect of dogen's teachings is a practice of being fully present and aware without judgment this practice is crucial in a nichan approach that Demands a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to question and overcome one's existing values and beliefs mindfulness cultivates the mental Clarity and focus needed for such introspective and transformative work Nature's concept of the self as a work of art requires an Embrace of change and impermanence dogen's teachings on the impermanent nature of the self and all phenomena provide a philosophical and practical grounding for this understanding impermanence as taught by dogen allows individuals to engage more freely in n's creative self-fashioning unburdened by the desire for permanence and certainty one of the risks in nich's philosophy is the descent into nalism or the belief in the meaninglessness of Life dogen's emphasis on the emptiness of the self and the interconnectedness of all beings offers a safeguard against this by realizing the emptiness of the self individuals are less likely to fall into nihilistic Despair and more likely to see Nature's call for self-overcoming as an opportunity for Meaningful engagement with the world the practice of zazen a form of seated meditation Central to dogen Zen Buddhism can be a powerful tool in actualizing nich's philosophy meditation cultivates a heightened awareness and presence that is foremost for the introspection and self-examination required in n and self-overcoming it sharpens the Mind allowing for a clearer and more profound engagement with n's demanding philosophical Concepts in synthesizing the teachings of dogen and N we discover a comprehensive approach to self-realization one that includes both Wilbur's concepts of waking up and growing up Doan's understanding of The self's Emptiness or Waking Up provides the foundation for engaging in nich's vigorous process of self-overcoming or growing up these two philosophies when combined can provide a blueprint for a life that is both deeply contemplative and vibrantly creative a life rooted in a profound understanding of the self's true nature or being while actively engaged in the ceaseless process of becoming an awakened [Music] nature

Channel: Asangoham

Views: 21,603

Keywords: friedrich nietzsche, nietzsche, zen, buddhism

Id: 7GXTuA55EY4

Length: 20min 55sec (1255 seconds)

Published: Thu Jan 11 2024