I was lucky enough to pick up this very rare, signed copy of a book, published in 1938, authored by Paul Reps. For those of you who may not know, Paul Reps was one of the first proponents of the new/next revolution in American Zen. One of the main things that he provided the world with was this very, (at the time), cutting edge Zen writings, presented in a very abstract, simple, yet poetic styling. Ever since I first discovered his writings, many-many-many years ago, I was always drawn to them. Though some of his works were, (and still are), published by large publishing houses, it does not seem that the greater Zen-seeking public ever discovered him.
 
Much of this man’s writings were presented in what were then known as chapbooks and much/most of them are very-very rare. I know I have a copy of one of his works where there are only two known copies to have survived. I also have other chapbook publications of his that none of the aggregating sources of published literature have ever even listed. So, if there are any others copies remaining, except for mine, they too are very-very rare.
 
What I am saying here is, though he was a great thinker, his writings have never been truly embraced. Why, I do not know???
 
The book I mentioned, was listed on eBay. Whenever I have seen it listed (anywhere) before, it went for a lot of money. Way more money than I felt comfortable paying. This recent copy on eBay, however, was listed for just a few dollars. I, of course, bid way more than that, expecting other bidders to go after it, due to its rarity, but no one did. I was the only bidder. So thankfully, I was allowed to purchase it for a very reasonable price. Way-way below market value.
 
And, here’s the thing, and the reality of Zen as a whole, some people get it, some people do not, most do not even care. This is why there has always been so much fracturing within the greater community of Zen Buddhism, and also the reason so few people actually understand the true meaning and essence of Zen.
 
This splintering has gone on forever. Lord knowns, back when there were actual magazines, I wrote articles about the historic divisions within Zen. Plus, I have also authored academic papers about the history and causation factors of these riffs.
 
When Zen founds its way to this modern era, there were a few essential proponents in the West: people like D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts, and Paul Reps who gave birth to this, new to the West, philosophic understanding. Yet, though everybody probably believes they know what Zen is, they are only viewing it from the perspective of the outside, not the inside. Thus, though they may throw their thoughts in the direction of those who follow the path of Zen, they do not truly hold a deep understand about what they speak. Thus, what are they actually saying and why are they saying anything at all?
 
I am not relaying any grand psychological revelation here when I say, those who base their life upon criticism are doing so from the perspective of insecurity. That’s a known fact. But, if we look throughout the history of Zen, there was even times when one patriarch sent his minions to have another patriarch assassinated, believing that his enlightenment was more than that of the other proponent. How vain is that? How un-Zen is that?
 
What I am saying here is that, perhaps at its root, Zen is impossible to define. Though it may be known and completely understood by the individual, that person’s understanding may never be fully embraced by anyone else. Thus, for those who do not even try to gain a deep knowledge of Zen, how can they—why should they voice their opinions on Zen that are not based upon the wisdom of true knowledge?
 
There were people out there like Paul Reps, who possessed a genuine and pure deep understating of Zen. Yet, so few even know about this man’s existence. Even fewer have studied his writings.
 
Zen is complex. If you try to know, you can never know. But, if you don’t try to know, what can you know? Somewhere in between all of that, however, there is that space of true knowledge, the place where satori and nirvana are experienced. But, to get there, you must be on the path. If you are not, you are not. If you are not, how can you understand Zen or any practitioner of Zen at all?