Importantly, both rationality and Zen acknowledge some version of the typical mind fallacy, carrying the realization that what’s best for one person now is not necessarily what’s best for them later, and that what works for one person may not work for another. Lucky for us we have so many skillful means to choose from on our journeys!
Do you know of writings from the Zen tradition that talk about how to adapt the skillfull means to the student? Or is it more a “try a lot of things and see what stick” approach?
I don’t. That kind of knowledge is part of the tradition passed down from one teacher to the next.
There’s also a tradition within vajrayana schools that involves a more direct kind of thing where teachers pick practices for their students to work with, but I believe that’s also knowledge that is not transmitted in writing.
Do you know of writings from the Zen tradition that talk about how to adapt the skillfull means to the student? Or is it more a “try a lot of things and see what stick” approach?
I don’t. That kind of knowledge is part of the tradition passed down from one teacher to the next.
There’s also a tradition within vajrayana schools that involves a more direct kind of thing where teachers pick practices for their students to work with, but I believe that’s also knowledge that is not transmitted in writing.