In The Flatbed Sutra of Louie Wing, the main character, “Louie”, frequently suggest that the best way to awaken and see what there is to see is to “cease conceptualization.”

At the same time, he declares that conceptualization, abstraction, simplification, etc. are not problems or hindrances “in themselves.” In fact, he argues that all of these are beneficial and necessary to human life.

This is his attempt to address a common misunderstanding in Zen circles; that concepts, abstractions, etc. (especially in the form of words or verbal formulations) are not real; or that their reality is “only” provisional. This notion can only lead us further from the truth.

Why?

Because conceptualizations, abstractions, simplifications, etc. are real; thus, granting them with “qualities” like ‘unreality’ or ‘provisional devices’ effectively substantiates them as something they are not.  The classic records of Zen testify to how extremely problematic this can be.

Hearing that concepts and abstractions are only concepts and abstractions has lead many a student to create a “conceptual abstraction” that affirms the “unreality” or “nonexistence” (or at least the insignificance) of concepts and abstractions.

This is the opposite of what the Zen masters mean when they urge us to “cease conceptualization.” Of course, we need their teachings about what conceptualization is, and why we must see through it—but we must combine this with their teachings on ‘how’ to do so. These teachings are straightforward and easy to understand; these are the basic instructions on Zen meditation. Simply understanding their teachings about “conceptualization” without putting it into practice is adding delusion to delusion.

Truly “ceasing conceptualization” is simultaneous with awakening to our own true nature. To frame this process in the style of Dogen’s famous line:

“To cease conceptualization is to forget ‘conceptualization’; to forget conceptualization is to be actualized by the myriad (real) things; to be actualized by the myriad (real) things is to shed both ‘concepts’ and ‘other than concepts.’”

This is what is often described as “seeing our true nature.” This, we are told, is to see the true nature of everything. Thus, with Zen meditation we come to truly grasp the reality of conceptualization, abstraction, and simplification—that is, we see their true nature.

What does it mean to see the ‘true nature’ of conceptualization, abstraction, and simplification?

It means to see that the true nature of conceptualizations, abstractions, and simplifications really and truly are conceptualizations, abstractions, and simplifications.

Peace,

Ted