The problem with that is, like much Eastern spiritual thought, it doesn't scale. Sure, we could all be Zen practitioners, but we'd have no fast computers, cool phones, or footprints on the Moon to show for it.
IMO Paul's essay is well-crafted because it shows that Protestantism isn't a requirement for a Protestant work ethic. He comes close to the truth, but never actually comes out and states it: as long as you're competing with people who love what they do, you don't stand a chance of succeeding unless you share that passion. And unless your job is to pick up garbage, you're always competing with people who love what they do. Faking it, as the Zen school of thought advocates, isn't going to cut it.
First of all, I'm not denying the positive effect of technological advance.
The problem with that is, like much Eastern spiritual
thought, it doesn't scale. Sure, we could all be Zen
practitioners, but we'd have no fast computers, cool
phones, or footprints on the Moon to show for it.
Are we really feeling better because of these modern comforts?
Faking it, as the Zen school of thought advocates, isn't going to cut it.
Ok, there're different ways to feel better. But which one is a fake? Is there any fake? Or is it just cultural habit?
Are we really feeling better because of these modern comforts?
I can only speak for myself, but: well, yes.
Ok, there're different ways to feel better. But which one is a fake? Is there any fake? Or is it just cultural habit?
That was a bit of a troll, on my part. I don't consider Zen to be "faking it," necessarily -- it may well be the Right Thing for some people. But I do think we'd have even cooler stuff and greater knowledge of both ourselves and the universe around us if, instead of endlessly creating and destroying mandalas to force ourselves to accept the impermanence of all things, we all fought impermanence tooth and nail.
"The problem with that is, like much Eastern spiritual thought, it doesn't scale. Sure, we could all be Zen practitioners, but we'd have no fast computers, cool phones, or footprints on the Moon to show for it."
I think what Buddhism preaches is more along the lines of functional minimalism rather that forgoing material production altogether. The idea is to develop a clear mind that can better distinguish between the means and the ends in everyday decision-making.
Have you ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?" You have to embrace the (slightly hilarious) seventies-ness of it to really enjoy the book, but I believe that computer programs are specifically mentioned as a place to "find the buddha."
Powells Books and Mexican food are the only things that I truly miss about the US. I'm flying back to Seattle for a brief visit in September, and already I'm planning a drive down to Portland.
IMO Paul's essay is well-crafted because it shows that Protestantism isn't a requirement for a Protestant work ethic. He comes close to the truth, but never actually comes out and states it: as long as you're competing with people who love what they do, you don't stand a chance of succeeding unless you share that passion. And unless your job is to pick up garbage, you're always competing with people who love what they do. Faking it, as the Zen school of thought advocates, isn't going to cut it.