Help me understand this philosophical game

[BenSinner]

Can I get some help on trying to understand what this ‘game’ is trying to teach regarding mindfulness? The author is using this game to show that we don’t perceive ‘sound’ with our ears, but with our brain. While this is true, I’m not understanding how this ‘game’ shows that.

http://zengong.org/en/speeches/mind-awakening-and-enlightenment/

Now, let us play a game.

“Gong! . . . !” [Grand master plays the large bell-gong.]

Please raise your hand if you think that there are sounds! [Most of the participants raise their hands.]

Let me play the bell-gong one more time.

“. . . . .!” [Grand master stops before touching the bell-gong.]

Please raise your hand if you think that there are sounds! [Several participants raise their hands.]

Really, you could hear the “sounds”!

I did not hit the bell-gong! I only hit the air. I think it is very hard to hear the sounds generated by hitting the air. So, there should be no-sound.

Let me play the bell-gong one more time.

“Gong! . . . !” [Grand master plays the bell-gong.]

Please raise your hand if you are hearing the sounds! [Most of the participants raise their hands.]

Very good. Let me play the bell-gong again.

“. . . . .!” [Grand master does not reach the bell-gong.]

Please raise your hand if you are hearing the sounds! [There are a few hands in the air.]

Please raise your hand if you are not hearing the sounds! [Again, there are only a few hands in the air.]

Are you confused?

Now, pay attention to the question.

“Gong! . . . !” [Grand master plays the large bell-gong.]

Are there any sounds? Please raise your hand if you think that there are sounds! [Most of the participants raise their hands.]

Very good. Let me play the bell-gong one more time.

“. . . . . !” [Grand master does not reach the bell-gong.]

Are there any sounds? [Most of the participants shake their heads.]

No-sound. Very good.

Let us play one more time.

“Gong! . . . !” [Grand master plays the bell-gong.]

Do you hear? [Most of the participants answer yes.]

Please raise your hand if you are trying to hear! [Most of the participants raise their hands.]

Very good. One more time.

“. . . . . !” [Grand master does not reach the bell-gong.]

Please raise your hand if you are hearing! [All participants raise their hands.]

Now, you all attain mind awakening!

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

My best guess.

Hearing is the act of trying to detect sound. “Did you hear xyz?” is a query. Did you detect the sound?

 

[ericc]

He got your attention by playing this game. On the outset, some people weren’t paying attention. At the end, everyone is awake.

 

[BenSinner]

ericc, what you mean by this?

 

[MPat]

The author is using this game to show that we don’t perceive ‘sound’ with our ears, but with our brain. While this is true, I’m not understanding how this ‘game’ shows that.

One possibility is that the “game” is only meant to confuse. That would fit seem the pattern - Buddhist koans seem to have such function as well.

Another possibility is that there is an argument that is slightly supported by the game:

1. It is possible to “hear silence” (or “hear no-sound”, or “listen to no-sound”).
2. “Hearing silence” is a perception.
3. Perceptions require that something would detect something.
4. Sense organs (ears) do not detect anything while “hearing silence”.
5. Therefore, something else (other than ears) detects something while “hearing silence”.
6. Mind is the only other possibility for that “something else”.
7. Therefore, it is the mind that “hears silence”.
8. Whatever “hears silence” also hears everything else.
9. Therefore, it is the mind that hears.

It is not a very good argument (premise 1 is kinda supported by the “game”, but premises 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 are not), but Buddhists do not seem to hold reason in very high regard anyway.

 

[ericc]

ericc, what you mean by this?

Didn’t you notice that by the end of the game, everyone is focusing on the grandmaster’s illustrations? Initially , a few were dozing or not paying attention. As the game continues, more and more people are
into the game. By the end everyone’s is in tune with the game. Everyone’s awake! Hence “Now, you all attain mind awakening!”. Anyway, that’s how I see the strategy being played out. The gong and game is just the tool. A good trick after lunch in a boring day-long seminar.