Zensible

The Anti-intellectualism of Zen

How is it that Zen is so rational, so sensible, and still so simple and anti-intellectual?

I myself is an intellectual, and it was my rational mind who led me to Zen and Buddhism. But when I arrived, I experienced that I had to leave my reasoning behind, and just try to experience the moment, not analyze it. This anti-intellectual stance is in fact, and at the same time, the most rational and intellectual there is.

So in my meditation I have to focus on the “what”, and not on the “why”. That can be really difficult when I have this analytical brain, but I consider the “what” and the “why” being brothers, the latter the younger one.

We can`t really mentalize without first being mindful.

For more about this: http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/Nagarjuna/roots_of_zen.htm