thomblake comments on Hyakujo's Fox - Less Wrong

12 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 24 March 2009 10:14AM

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Comment author: thomblake 24 March 2009 04:50:11PM *  2 points [-]

It really makes you wonder how the hell they got that far while still believing that the wrong answer could turn you into a fox.

If one's conception of 'the law of causation' is constituted partly by the belief that you can turn into a fox, then it will take a while to figure out that you can talk about the law of causation without believing that you can turn into a fox.

EDIT: made context clearer

Comment author: gwern 25 March 2009 02:07:47AM 3 points [-]

I think you're being a bit harsh (I hope out of ignorance). It is a ridiculous belief, yes, and the Zen teachers were perfectly aware of it. If I may quote from the venerable Wumen who compiled The Gateless Gate, specifically his comments on this koan:

`The enlightened man is not subject.' How can this answer make the monk a fox?

`The enlightened man is at one with the law of causation.' How can this answer make the fox emancipated?

Comment author: thomblake 26 March 2009 08:56:58PM 1 point [-]

I edited my comment to point out what I was replying to - I was confused when you said that I was being harsh, when I was merely offering an explanation for EY's observation.

Indeed, I agree that they were aware it's ridiculous. Note that Hyakujo saw an old man, not a fox.

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