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Buddhism and Physical Pain

ravkesravkes Veteran
edited January 2010 in Buddhism Basics
This is specifically asked in terms of Zen Buddhism:

Zen doesn't really preach, but a Zen Master once told me that if you're avoiding anything you aren't practicing Zen. This didn't make any sense to me I suppose, logically even though Zen isn't logical. But.. what if someone was going to chop off your arm -- Why do Zen masters and practitioners avoid pain? This troubles me, I am trying to emotionally detach but I can't fully understand sensational pain and Buddhism's view on this matter.

Thank you.

Comments

  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited January 2010
    You can avoid someone trying to chop off your arm, you just aren't doing Zen (=chan=jhana) at that time. :)

    Other pain, you can't avoid experiencing. If you don't bring that into sitting practice, that's a much more serious problem.
  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    edited January 2010
    fivebells wrote: »
    You can avoid someone trying to chop off your arm, you just aren't doing Zen (=chan=jhana) at that time. :)

    Other pain, you can't avoid experiencing. If you don't bring that into sitting practice, that's a much more serious problem.

    lol ok smarty pants, why do zen practitioners avoid pain then? i guess its sort of like avoid what you can but since its inevitable they're ready when it comes?
  • AriettaDolenteAriettaDolente Veteran
    edited January 2010
    If somebody swings a sword at you and you move, that is not "avoiding." That is responding. "Avoiding" would be remaining still and allowing your arm to be chopped off.

    Do you see? :cool:

    ~ AD
  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    edited January 2010
    AriettaDolente wrote: »
    If somebody swings a sword at you and you move, that is not "avoiding." That is responding. "Avoiding" would be remaining still and allowing your arm to be chopped off.

    Do you see? :cool:

    ~ AD


    Ah so our biological/innate response to pain is in fact Zen.. because one does not think, one just does.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited January 2010
    oops posted in wrong thread
  • PietroPumokinPietroPumokin
    edited January 2010
    ravkes wrote: »
    This is specifically asked in terms of Zen Buddhism:

    Zen doesn't really preach, but a Zen Master once told me that if you're avoiding anything you aren't practicing Zen. This didn't make any sense to me I suppose, logically even though Zen isn't logical. But.. what if someone was going to chop off your arm -- Why do Zen masters and practitioners avoid pain? This troubles me, I am trying to emotionally detach but I can't fully understand sensational pain and Buddhism's view on this matter.

    Thank you.
    i think when he or she said avoiding they meant mentally avoiding, because dodging a sword is not avoiding something, and if you were to think it were zen to let the sword fall on you then you would be avoiding the sword
    you should be VOIDING things HA HA and not avoiding them. the void does anything.
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