Hi.
2013 can be called a year of God, with
both the nobelprize in physics for the theoretical discovery of ”the
Godparticle” and the publishing of Brad Warners book ”There is no God and he is always with you”.
One of the major things that rub people
with this years Nobelprize and in Brad Warners book and is best
described by the author himself when he talks about the power, and
troubles, of words, and in this case a specific word, God.
"The
word God,
on the other hand, is much more immediate and richer. Rather than
asking you to ponder its meaning, the word God
just punches you in the face, after which you have to deal with how
to respond. It has all kinds of messy layers of meaning and
connotation. It sparks emotions and tangents. Sometimes it makes
people feel settled and happy. Sometimes it makes them angry. Or it
makes them confused. Or it makes them frustrated. Or all of the above
at the same time. It's a dangerous word.
"That's
what I've encountered in my practice. Zen is not something dry and
orderly. It cannot be easily fit into premeasured boxes. It's very
messy, because it is alive. The universe we inhabit is a dynamic,
living thing. God is
a good word to use for what Zen is about because shoving the word God
into a tidy intellectual container would be like trying to shove a
live octopus into a Kleenex box." p 175- 176
But is it so bad to be rubbed
sometimes?
Brad Warner first book, Hardcore Zen,
came out in 2003, and, using an musicanalogy, it was a hardcore take
on buddhism, and zen in particular.
Since then he has produced, with
this, a total of five books, and just like a rough diamond, smoothed
out the edges.
Notice i said smoothed, because in true Warnerstyle,
they're still there.
The book is still a Brad Warner book,
full of nononsense, straightforward writings, pokings and Brad's take
on things ranging from the Godconcept to the Bible to various
spiritual concepts all wrapped in a graceful, heartful, humoristic
aura which really brings a new level to the reading while gently
pushing the reader forward.
Brad Warner talks about what belief in
God and what God means to him as a Zen Buddhist practitioner.
He also
recognizes that one of the difficulties with such questions is that
the answers depend on what you mean by God, as well as what you mean
by belief and by Buddhism.
The main subject of the book is the
Godconcept, which we explore, through Brads eyes and writing, as he
travels to different locations throughout the book, meeting people
and exploring places and events. You might refer to it as a
travellers guide in a dual sense, both in the world and in...
My favourite parts in the book is the
discussion of "enlightenment porn" (pp 34-46) and the
section on karma (pp 116-120). Which brings up two important topics,
that doesn't have to do with the concept of God, and takes them back
down to earth so to speak.
In them he talks about the adoration of
the ”enlightenmentexperience” and the misconception of Karma and
the industry that these things has brought. Subjects worthy of
another book i sense...
There are some minor obstacles though.
He refers to his views of things as the Buddhist view rather
than a Buddhist view, which is unfortunate when he, already in the
beginining states that this is his takes on things. ”I wrote
this book to explain what god means to me”. (p. VII)
His takes on the concept of God, is
unconvincing, though thoughtprovoking, and might have been more
elaborately discussed. Especially since he tries hard, though not
hard enough to convince the reader of the rightness of his views in
matters discussed.
When it all comes down to it, this book
is basically about Brads take on the concept of God and other things
in the spritual scene. Does that make it any less readable?
No. I still find it one of the best of
his books.
Although ”Sit down and shut up” is
number one on my list of his books, i would recommend this book to
anyone who asks.
Thank you Brad, for a much needed, and
very good, book.
Mtfbwy
Fugen
