Hassidic Teachings and Zen Art, Side by Side

Characteristics of Hassidic Teachings Characteristics 1. De-mystifying (reduces poetic exaggeration to meaningful themes) 1. Asymmetry 2. Non-theistic (Hasidic theology may be characterized as belonging to "religious naturalism" and entails no belief in an outside deity that is willful or active in human affairs) 2. Simplicity (considers doubt an 3. Certitude-based expected obstacle on the way, to be experienced and welcomed by the tzaddikhero) (Transmutes even long4. Iconoclastic cherished Jewish metaphors and themes) 5. Practice-focused (every cosmic theme becomes symbolized into a practice) 6. Ecstatic (assumes an ecstatic orientation as a starting point) 7. Liberation-oriented (encourages increased personal awareness and freedom to explore idiosyncracies) 8. Rebellious (takes a stance of ongoing critique of religion in general) of Zen Art in painting, pottery, calligraphy, N0, the tea ceremony, and so on. (avoidance of the geometrical and perfect; unsaintly saints). (black and white preferred) 3. Agedness (finished before it is begun; W ordworth' s bare trees and mountains bare") 4. Naturalness (innocence; thought-lessness; no compulsion) 5. Latency (the gentleness of the warrior; the subdued but not gloomy light of the tearoom; much in little) (indifference to 6. Unconventionality contradictions; no "Idea of the Holy") 7. Quietness (inner, not outer) 8. Freedom (absolute freedom-to be asymmetrical if we want to) 9. Humor (includes paradox and contradiction, and the blessedness which we attain to in their perception) 10. Sexuality ("Eternity is in love with the productions of time"; this sexual relation between the human and the world is Zen and enlightenment is its orgasm; "All nature is my bride." says Thoreau. Human sadism, and masochism, are included.) 11. Joy (youthfulness, Blake's Glad Day; the early Wordsworth's universe)