[MD] Truth and Relativity 2.9.9

[MarshaV]

Some more words on conventional (relative) knowledge...

"While I am thinking about it there is a very good book on Buddhism recently out called 'Buddhism, Plain and Simple', by Steve Hagen and published by Tuttle Publishing. I recommend you get it because it shows the similarities, between the MOQ and Zen Buddhism more clearly than any other I have seen."

     (Pirsig to McWatt, May 6th 1998.)


"THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE and two types of views.  One consists of beliefs, opinions, conjectures---having an idea of something.  It's an intellectual grasping of concepts.  This is how we commonly think of knowledge.

"But this is not _knowing_.  In fact, the natural results of relying on mere conceptual knowledge are fear, discomfort, and confusion---in short, dukkha.

"We think that our beliefs and ideas can be relied on to give us satisfaction.  But if we examine the effects they have on us we'll discover that, at best, they only temporarily satisfy us.  In fact, they're actually our primary sources of anxiety and fear, because they're always subject to contradiction and doubt.

"By their very nature, all our ideas and beliefs are frozen views---fragments of Reality, separated from the Whole.  In other words, because we rely on what we think (conceptual), rather than on what we _see_ (perception) there's unrest in our mind.  Underneath it all, we're uneasy---and, furthermore, we _know_ it.

"The fact is, we are already enlightened, even now.  We _know_ Truth.  We just habitually overlay our direct experience of Truth with thoughts---with beliefs and opinions and ideas.  We pile them all into our conceptual frame, not recognizing the consequences."

    (Hagen, Steve, ‘Buddhism: Plain and Simple’, pp. 110-111)