When you try to reduce a Zen metaphor (like the fan metaphor) to a simple logical statement ('if you don't do zazen, you don't get enlightenment'), you lose the open-endedness and depth of the metaphor, which is why Zen uses metaphors instead of straightforward claims.
causalpending
Speaker
Brad WarnerEvidence Quote
“if you boil it down to...that's not quite what the metaphor is saying...that's why you use a metaphor because it's much more open-ended”
Created: 8/11/2026, 7:06:08 AM
My Notes
Loading notes...