I very much admire Zen — it’s thinking, culture, art, — especially the way it existed in the medieval Japan. It is remarkable and amazing to see how the entire civilization can be based on the simple teachings of Zen. I’m very glad that medieval people of Japan have chosen Zen to be the basis of their life.
In my conversation with ChatGPT, I was exploring the samurai way of life, especially their use of sword. I came to know that a perfect samurai would take life in a state of no-mind.
According to my understanding, the state of no-mind is characterized by the absence of ego and it’s selfish plans, projections, intentions, etc. In that state we are in tune with existence, we are one with existence, and consequently, we create no karma.
It seems to me that medieval Japanese have discovered or understood that even taking of life can be done in a state of no-mind and can be karma free. In other words, a samurai in tune with existence can take life and be karma free because he is not performing actions on the basis of ego.
What do you think? I know this is a very sensitive question.
Could you provide some references (not just ChatGPT) about the Japanese “samurai Zen” in connection with taking life, particularly human life, in terms of no-mind, no-ego, and karma free?
The only reference I have are two beautiful discourses by Osho, which are found in a book A Bird on a Wing. Please read chapters 3 and 7. I have attached the PDF. A_Bird_on_the_Wing.pdf (859.9 KB)
His writings have nothing to do with Buddhism except what he could appropriate to “exploit the ignorance and gullibility of his listeners,” to quote Wikipeda (!)
I recommend reading more reliable sources if you’re interested in learning about Buddhism. Buddhist Life, Buddhist Path is a good free book for example, written by someone trained in both Japanese Zen and Theravāda Buddhism.
I think that romanticizing the Samurai doesn’t fit with Buddhism, particularly early Buddhism, which is the heart of what this forum is dedicated to. The use of a sword has no place in what the Buddha taught. Raising a sword and taking a life takes willful action and that kamma will ripen with a bad result. I also don’t think that being in tune with existence or being one with existence is found in the Buddha’s teachings.
The only killing the Nobles Ones praise is the killing of anger.
At Sāvatthī.
Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:
“When what is slain do you sleep at ease?
When what is slain is there no sorrow?
What’s the one thing, Gotama,
whose killing you approve?”
“When anger’s slain you sleep at ease.
When anger’s slain there is no sorrow.
O deity, anger has a poisonous root
and a honey tip.
The noble ones praise its killing,
for when it’s slain there is no sorrow.”
SN 1.71
I suggest watching the documentary Wild Wild Country if you want to learn the real story about Rajneesh and the Rajneeshees—he only changed his name to Osho about a year before he died. Wildest and most riveting documentary I’ve ever seen. Has lots of firsthand accounts and video footage. Watch that and you can judge for yourself the character of a leader who allowed such crazy things to happen under his watch.
So, I will just preface this by saying that this is completely, utterly wrong, in every single respect.
I will append to that that I am a subject matter expert in this area for a couple of reasons. 1) I am long time Zen practitioner and 2) I also an a longterm practitioner of Koryu Bugei, which in short are the historical martial practices invented by the samurai. There is a direct line between myself and the samurai that founded my lineage in the 15th century.
So, to start, the influence of Zen on both the samurai in general and japanese culture is massively over blown. The primary influence on the samurai were Shinto and japanese Vajrayana/Shingon Mikkyo (Please read The Buddhist Goddess Marishiten: A Study of of the Evolution and Impact of Her Cult on the Japanese Warrior by Dave Hall). Pre Edo period samurai were concerned with two things only: Protecting the Clan and not dying. People who are supposedly unconcerned with the ego and dying don’t really go on to invent the most formidable martial systems the world has ever seen.
There were some notable Zen influences, but these all mostly after the start of the Edo period, and along with things like Bushido, honor, etc, are the products of 2 things and 2 things only: peacetime and boredom. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the samurai were a professional warrior class without any more wars to fight, do they turned their talents to other areas: duels, petty bureacracy, and romanticizing their past. This period is were most of the myth of the samurai was born.
Pre sekigahara, the samurai were professional killers. They understood the gravity of what they did and they didn’t try to gussie it up with Zen terminology. The had rituals to cleanse their karma, and treat the mental stresses of battle, both in shinto and shingon
Thanks for so generously and articulately sharing your expertise in this area. Myth slain.
Reminds me of this Zen tale:
A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: “Is there really a paradise and a hell?”
“Who are you?” inquired Hakuin.
“I am a samurai,” the warrior replied.
“You, a soldier!” exclaimed Hakuin. “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar.”
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: “So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head.”
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: “Here open the gates of hell!”
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master’s discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
“Here open the gates of paradise,” said Hakuin.
Zen is profound!
Given your expertise please can I ask question? A friend into Chan was a Tai Chi adept, but the more he reflected on Tai Chi being a martial art the less Tai Chi he did.
With your depth of experience and expertise, I wonder how you have seen Zen practitioners reconcile Mahayana non-violence with martial arts practice?
Ha, thats one of my favorites, too. I’d also recommend you look up the tale of Tsukahara Bokuden and the Boat. It’s another one of my favorites.
Its easier in the modern day because the odds of me actually using my arts against another human being are basically 0. There’s the occasional wacko out there that like to larp as samurai, but many of us (including myself) train the ryu to help keep the ryu alive and going for the next generation. It’s a living tradition in a world where those are few and far between, so its worth preserving.
By the same token, being a pacifist doesn’t mean being a pushover, either.
