Preaching to the Dead

Last updated on: April 19, 2018 at 11:09 am by Daniel Scharpenburg

Preaching to the Dead 2018-04-19T11:09:59-05:00 Daniel Scharpenburg

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

These are passages from a teaching by Master Han Shan (Silly Mountain) called “The Maxims.”

When we preach the Dharma to those who see only the ego’s illusory world, we preach in vain. We might as well preach to the dead.

As I walk the Bodhisattva path, I feel a sort of responsibility to share the teachings with anyone that wants them. I know I’ve had the experience where people express an interest but I think they’re not really interested, so I’m reluctant to share the teachings with them. That’s not the right attitude. As Buddhists we don’t go out and try to win people over, BUT if people express interest, it’s a good idea to share the teachings with them whenever possible.
That being said, that isn’t what Han Shan is talking about here. This is a statement against evangelizing. Don’t go out and chase after people who aren’t interested in the Buddhist path. If people aren’t interested, then we’re preaching in vain.

How foolish are they who turn away from what is real and true and lasting and instead pursue the fleeting shapes of the physical world, shapes that are mere reflections in the ego’s mirror. Not caring to peer beneath the surfaces, deluded beings are content to snatch at images. They think that the material world’s ever-flowing energy can be modified into permanent forms, that they can name and value these forms, and then, like great lords, exert dominion over them.

Material things are like dead things and the ego cannot vivify them. As the great lord is by his very identity attached to his kingdom, the ego, when it attaches itself to material objects, presides over a realm of the dead. The Dharma is for the living. The permanent cannot abide in the ephemeral. True and lasting joy can’t be found in the ego’s world of changing illusion. No one can drink the water of a mirage.

A key Buddhist teaching is impermanence. Everything is fleeting. A lot has been made of the word ‘Emptiness’ in Buddhism. I don’t think Emptiness means that there’s nothing, I think it means there’s nothing to hold onto. We put so much value on the things we want and also on the things we have already. The fact of the matter is that you can’t take it with you. Not only that, but also this: whatever your clinging to is probably not going to be around all that long. Things break, relationships end, money runs out, our physical bodies wear out, faster and faster as we get older.

All the things we are clinging to are illusory, in that they won’t bring us lasting happiness. And often the things we try to own end up owning us, afflicting us with further obsession and clinging.

True refuge can’t be found in material things.

So stop clinging so much. Hold on loosely.

———————————————————

Daniel Scharpenburg is a meditation instructor and dharma teacher in Kansas City. He regularly gives teachings through the Open Heart Project, the largest virtual mindfulness community in the world.

Find out more about Daniel on his website and connect with him on Facebook.

You can support independent Buddhist writing by joining a community of fellow learners/practitioners at Patreon

Previous Post

March 5, 2018

Silly Mountain: Han Shan Deqing

Next Post

March 15, 2018 Sword of Discrimination

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 37 Practices blog bodhisattva book review boundless heart buddha buddhism buddhism for beginners compass of zen compassion dhammapada dharma emptiness Faith in Mind fearless heart han shan impermanence inspiration interfaith koans life Lojong mahayana meditation mind training mirror of zen movie review nagarjuna news questions recording song of mind steps to the great perfection suffering sutras suttas Uncategorized vajrayana video videos zen

Select a Month July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 September 2021 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 August 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who wore a coat of many colors?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Joseph Abel Jacob

Support this
Column