The Zen comment is one such mystery. "Teaching stories" or parables are
at the heart of communicating the essence of the Zen perspective, and yet
there _is_ an emphasis on clarity and simplicity about the concepts that go
along with the tradition.
I'm not a practitioner of Zen, just an interested neophyte, but my
response to your comment about needing only one perspective is to wonder
what is the sound of one perspective clapping?
IMHO, Zen is about unity rather than separation, more perhaps about
eliminating "perspective" than limiting it.
Why not acknowledge and benefit from as many perspectives as we can,
metaphor when it works for us, precision when that is beneficial? In any
case, I will continue to consider the possibility that you are absolutely
right and whether or not that is the world I'd choose to live in.
Tobin Quereau
quereau@austin.cc.tx.us
On Wed, 4 Jan 1995, Chas. A. Barclay wrote:
> > I also feel that different perspectives can add to or polish your
> > objectivity!
> >
>
> Can some one tell me why a different perspective supposes you are
> objective or have greater objectivity than someone with a broad
> perspective?
>
> The way you folks use perspective is consistent with the
> psychological concept of a perception filter. If your perception is
> such that it has no filter than you need only one perspective.
>
> Ditto's with objectivity and frames of reference.
>
> Zen training allows one to shed your version of perspective.
>
> Charles Barclay 2404 Maile Way
> Dept. of Mgmt & Ind Relations Honolulu, HI 96822
> University of Hawaii Fax: 808 956-2774
> barclay@busadm1.cba.hawaii.edu Phone: 808 956-8545
>
> "The marketplace is much too Darwinian to permit that much
> discussion." DEC CEO Robert Palmer assessing the effect of managers
> working together in management decisions for foreign operations.
>
> BusinessWeek 1994 Special Issue--21st Century Capitalism
>
>