Zen spin…… ( From 12/6/20)
“The term is shortened from mushin no shin (無心の心), (arising from the Chinese Chan School of Buddhism) of a Zen expression meaning the mind without mind and is also referred to as the state of “no-mindness”. That is, a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to EVERYTHING. It is translated by D.T. Suzuki as “being free from mind-attachment”…… The essence of Zen is attempting to understand the meaning of life directly, without being misled by logical thought or language.”
As a Christian cautioned to live with guarded heart and renewed mind fixed on Christ, I have found a state of mind of openness to everything to be both dangerous and ignorant of the reality of the spiritual realm.
Even God expects us to use not just our private, personal experiences to understand life, but to also use reason as He invites us in Isaiah 1:18, “Come let us reason together.” We are also to use tradition, as in Judges 7:17, where Gideon said, “Watch me and do what I do” and Jesus in John 14:12, “ But if you cannot, then believe me because of what you see me do. I assure you that the man who believes in me will do the same things that I have done,” and Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” We are to be obedient also to His Word to understand life and ask for the wisdom that comes by His Spirit. James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Do you really want to be “mindless” or even merely full of only your own mind? If so, okay, Zen.