#fuckyeahzen

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It's a Korean historical drama based loosely on the life of first queen of Silla. It's one of the most popular and highly regarded dramas in Korea, by my understanding, and for VERY GOOD REASON. It looks like a soap opera because it's a digital recording (not film, which looks all fancy), but it's a high budget production which basically means the clothes are beautiful and the actors are top-notch.

Do you mean to ask me, as a person? Or in general?

If personally, then that's easy.  "All I know is that I know nothing".  I'm just an academically nerdy chump who sits around and writes on his laptop.  I am a beginner just like you (I can't assume your a beginner), and I claim no title.  

I'm no guru, sensei, lama, or bikkhu.

My sensei told me that even some Zen teachers view the ordination of a Zen master as the beginning of their practice, not the culmination.

So in this sense, I want to be clear and ask my followers to look at this blog not as a place to absorb information, but as a place to begin a discussion.  I don't know everything.  In fact, I know nothing.  Therefore, let's all establish ourselves with a student-to-student relationship, instead of a "holier-than-thou-to-muggle" relationship.

If in general, I'd have to ask what you define as "proper concepts".

But then again, no concepts can take our practice anywhere.  According to Bradley Hawkins' textbook Asian Religions, Zen philosophy teaches that there are three types of knowledge:

Conventional knowledge - e.g. if I put my hand in the fire, it will burn.

Deep knowledge (wisdom)

Deepest wisdom (Prajnaparamita) - which "is derived from insight and careful reflection.  [It is the type of] knowledge of direct realization unmediated by conceptual frameworks."

Therefore, concepts have little meaning to our practice.  We can all experience prajnaparamita in our daily lives.  There's another Zen saying that says,

"When you wash the dishes, just wash the dishes."

Even zazen is just about sitting.  No goals, no attainments; just sit.  The Heart Sutra teaches us that there is nothing to be attained.  Therefore, Zen practice isn't about becoming, but about being.  We already are masters!

All forms of Buddhism encourage us to live our every-day life reflectively, attentively, and compassionately--something which all human beings have a great shot at doing, regardless of religion.

Allow me to answer your question with another question:

If we are all buddhas, wouldn't that mean that you can learn from everybody?

"Before enlightenment, I carried water and chopped wood; after enlightenment, I carried water and chopped wood".