Zen Without Zen Masters

123 Pages·2014·3.64 MB·English

by  Camden Benares

ZEN
Without
Zen Masters
By
Camden
Benares
ZEN
WITHOUT
ZEN
MASTERS
ZEN
WITHOUT
ZEN
MASTERS
By Camden Benares
Commentary By
Robert Anton Wilson
Illustrated by
Deborah M. Cotter
1993
NEW FALCON PUBLICATIONS
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A.
Copyright © 1977 Camden Benares
All rights reserved. No part of this book, in part or in
whole, may be reproduced, transmitted, or utilized, in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publisher, except for brief quotations in critical articles,
books and reviews.
International Standard Book Number: 0-56184-073-4
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 85-70387
First Edition 1977 (And/Or Press)
Second Printing 1978
Third Printing 1978
First Falcon Edition 1985
Second Printing 1988
Third Printing 1990
Fourth Printing 1993
New Falcon Publications
655 East Thunderbird
Phoenix, Arizona 85022 U.S.A.
For Kerry Thornley and Gregory Hill
IF YOU LIKE
ZEN WITHOUT ZEN MASTERS
YOU WILL WANT
CAMDEN BENARES'S
LONG AWAITED NEW BOOK
A HANDFUL OF ZEN
FROM NEW FALCON PUBLICATIONS
PREFACE
In my search for an understanding of Zen, some of my
first questions were: What is Zen? What can it do for me?
How do I get into it? The following statements are my cur­
rent best answers to those questions.
Zen is the radical approach to Buddhism. Historically,
Zen arose as a Buddhist sect resulting from a blend of Bud­
dhism and Taoism. According to some traditions, Zen came
into being with the meeting of Buddha and Lao Tse about
2,500 years ago. However, most authorities believe Zen devel­
oped in China in the sixth century of the common era when
Indian Buddhist missionaries encountered Taoists. Zen spread
to Japan via China and Korea in the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries, and from Japan to the West at the beginning of the
twentieth century.
What Zen has done for me is to clarify and liberate my
state of consciousness. Zen offered a way of experiencing
life directly, a way of learning who I was and how I wanted
to live.
There are two approaches to getting into Zen. The for­
mal approach is to study with a Japanese Zen Master. The in­
formal approach is an individual study program using what­
ever materials are available. The informal approach results in
what I call Western Zen. I see it as the next step in the radical
Zen tradition. Zen Without Zen Masters represents my at­
tempt to share Western Zen with you.
This book may create questions in the minds of some
readers. Are the Zen stories real? Many of the stories, includ­
ing some of the most improbable sounding ones, are taken
verbatim from life. Others are real events revised and edited
for a more meaningful presentation. A few are based on hear­
say from sources that vary in reliability. A small minority are
Zen in parable form.
Do the exercises and meditation guides work? To the
best of my knowledge and experience, they do. This doesn’t
mean that they will work for everyone at all times. Your ex­
perience should be your guide. I have no wish for you to do
anything that doesn’t produce results for you.
What is the purpose of this book? My words about Zen
are intended to aid you in “getting more out of life.” But
neither these words nor their meaning is Zen, because Zen is
the reality behind the meaning. This book is one tool to help
you experience that reality in its fullness.
( 7 )
TABLE OF CONTENTS Positioning 48
Directness 49
Preface 7 Patterns 49
Counterpoint by Robert Jerry’s Religion 50
Anton Wilson 11 Trouble-Free Action 51
I Guides and Lovable Fools 15 Pay As You Go 52
Solitary System 16 Bob’s Enlightenment 53
Masters and Teachers 17 Skills and Talents 54
Mai’s Truth 18 Vision 54
Ben and the Fanatic 19 Changing Times 54
Audience Response 20 Taking Risks 55
A Common Disease 21 Good Vibrations 55
Pop Quiz 22 Personal Experience 55
Ho Chi Zen’s School 23 Lucas’ Search 56
Dr. Zen 24 Sue’s Path 57
A Ringing in the Ears 25 The Circle of Truth 58
Hypoc’s Earring 26 Karma 59
Lucas’ Meditation 27 Double Learning 60
Otis and the Older Student 28 Inner Space 60
Peter and the Japanese Dual Fallacies 60
Zen Master 29 No Credit, No Blame 61
The Zen Temple Attendant 30 Attention 61
Ho’s First Sermon 31 Past Burdens 61
Gladys and the Zen Master 32 Pattern Design 62
Advance from the Retreat 33 George’s Teaching 63
The Artist’s Enlightenment 34 Coming to Terms with Death 64
Expensive Advice 35 Dimensions of Life 64
Voting 36 Madness 65
The Right to Die 37 The Inmates 65
Obstacles 38 Jo Anne’s Enlightenment 66
The Priest 39 The Names of Ho Chi Zen 66
Enlightenment of a Seeker 40 III The Zen of Sex 67
Ho Chi Zen Confides Again 41 Sex and Nirvana 68
II Personal Work 43 Sex and Morality 69
Personal Work 44 Ben on Human Sexuality 70
Living Zen 44 Judd’s Vision 71
Instant Enlightenment 44 Sex After Liberation 72
Focus 45 Chastity and Other Perversions 73
Change 45 What if Everybody Did It? 74
Pralaya’s Wisdom 46 A Cure for Paranoia 75
Who’s in Charge Here 47 Jenny’s Liberation in Action 76
Responsibility Here and Now 48 Alberto’s Insight 77
Ben’s Romanticism 78 Freedom Exercise 114
Ho Chi Zen and the Dragon Lady 79 Questioning Exercise 114
IV The Reality of Illusion 81 Sexual Exercise 115
Reality 82 Garden Exercise 116
Good News, Bad News 83 Getting Exercise 117
Illusion and Reality 84 Pain-Easing Meditation 118
Zen Sense 85 Pleasure Exercise 119
Identity Risk 86 Secret Exercise 119
The Clock 87 Silent Exercise 119
Time Orientation 88 Libido Exercise 120
Open Secrets 88 Physical Exercise 121
Imagination 88 Reprogramming Exercise 122
Cause and Effect 89 Inventive Exercise 123
Belief and Creation 89 Recommended Reading 125
Science and Magic 89 About the Author 127
Ken’s Truth 90
A Mystical Experience 91
Wisdom Within 92
Solving the Mystery 93
Freedom and the Law 94
Lunacy 95
Inflation 96
Art and the Artist 96
V Meditations and Exercises 97
Breathing Meditation 98
Moving Meditation 100
Walking Meditation 101
Transcendental Meditation 102
Daily Exercise 104
Being Exercise 104
Candle Exercise 105
Decisive Exercise 106
Energizing Exercise 106
Hanging Loose Exercise 107
Relaxation Exercise 108
Giving Exercise 109
Visualization Meditation 110
Living Exercise 111
Loving Exercise 111
Honesty Exercise 112
Invitational Exercise 112
Laughing Exercise 113