These texts draw me immediately into a religious and linguistic world that is less familiar than the world of Zen Buddhism. It is a world of penitence, sin, and divinely inspired illumination. There are fewer points of connection for me as I read text and commentary and many more questions.
- What understanding of the human nature and the human problem is reflected here? What is the significance of penitence? What does it mean?
- Sudden penitence that comes through divine agency is higher than the gradual form. Why? Is sudden penitence possible without spiritual seeking and preparation?
- How central is penitence in defining the human relationship with God? Why the centrality of penitence?
- How is the “unified vision of all being” related to the non-dual understanding of Advaita and Zen?
- The sense of personal sin is pervasive in these texts. How is sin related to ignorance in Advaita or the ego in Zen?
