Snape the Zen Master/ was Re: Harry's Role in OotP (long)

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 130174

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tonks" <tonks_op at y...> wrote:

<snipping>

First, let me pimp myself back at 126908 with a projected model for 
Occlumency, which addresses some things here:

<snip discussion of Zen koans>

> But then I heard that the purpose of these sayings are not for the 
> student to think about and try to figure out the answer. The 
> purpose is to teach the student to be empty. To close his mind to 
> thinking.  (I may have this all wrong, so if someone knows this 
> better please come forward and tell us.)

I don't recall Snape offering anything to make one think in that kind 
of paradoxical manner so beloved by Zen masters.  (By the way, the 
koan of 'one hand clapping' *actually does have an answer*.)  My take 
on "Close your mind", from a lot of personal experience doing things 
with relaxation, is that it's pretty impossible to do yourself as a 
beginner without a feedback mechanism.

Hitting a student is not feedback; giving them pressure that allows 
them to feel what they're doing is.  Snape never gives any ideas as 
to how to clear one's mind, which is something that I know personally 
can be done.  It's an essential *component* of the process of 
learning by doing.

A Zen master gives a student something that's very productive to 
think about and go on.  A Zen master also tends not to lose his 
temper dramatically at the foibles of youth.  I don't see any of 
Snape's statements falling into that category of koan-like, nor do I 
see his instruction as like that of a meditation master.

My experiences only speaking, of course.

-Nora could use a little free time to think, herself