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24 September 2015

Experience vs Thought

The book Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel is about a student's ardent desire to learn about mysticism. Somewhere right in the beginning itself it is made clear to him that mysticism can never be comprehended intellectually. It is an art that is possible to be mastered only through experience. And once you experience, it is difficult to articulate it. However, the student is then put through a means of understanding Zen, through archery. Half way through his 'spiritual' journey, he lands on a good insight:
But why try to anticipate in thought what only experience can teach? Was it not high time to drop this unfruitful habit?

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