Nihilism and Eternalism – The Deadly Traps of Zen Meditation in the West!

There are many people who, after persevering in their practice for a while, do not feel that they are progressing. They then give up in despair and start to think about practicing something else. In this way they succumb to delusive thinking and laziness. However, such an attitude is self-destructive. For if you were sure of being reborn as a human being, then it would not matter so much if you wasted this one life in idly enjoying yourselves. But actually there is no certainty as to what sort of rebirth is awaiting you. Some people believe that death is final and there is no further life after it. Such persons are regarded as having fallen into the extreme view of nihilism.

Eternalism

Then there are others who are unconcerned about the nature of their subsequent rebirths. They think that now one should just enjoy this life and if one is then reborn in hell or as an animal, what does it really matter? They believe that since the mind is eternal one will continue to receive numerous bodies, what reason is there to be concerned about any particular rebirth? People who think in this way will fall into the extreme view of eternalism. It is important to free yourselves from these two extremes of nihilism and eternalism.

From Nihilism to Wisdom - Meditation

After practicing meditation for some time you will experience entering the door of emptiness. Subsequently you have to take one further step off the hundred-foot pole. Only then will you be able to pierce through the barrier of the patriarchs. Now what does it mean to "pierce" through this barrier? It means to transcend the two extremes of nihilism and eternalism. This is achieved because at such a time when one thought arises, all the ten thousand forms of the universe come into being; and when one thought ceases, they all return to quiescent emptiness, and the joy of awakening is experienced.