Punching a Young Man Claiming to be an Enlightened Buddhist in the Face: A Socratic Dialogue

By Harry More

This novelette is starts out with a drug-using, unemployed individual who claims to be an Enlightened Buddhist being punched in the face, and the resulting conversation is a Socratic dialogue in which the supposed Enlightened Buddhist is accused of adhering to a pseudo-Buddhism. This book is for anyone who's met a drug using reprobate who claims to be a Zen Master, and did not enjoy the occasion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harry More
• Release date: Nov 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465891181

Harry More

Harry More is the assumed name of a writer who lives on Planet Earth.

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Punching a Young Man Claiming to be an Enlightened Buddhist in the Face: A Socratic Dialogue

By Harry More

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Harry More

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Punching someone in the face is not something I have done before, but on this occasion, I simply could not resist the urge. Violence is something I abhor, but this man had eyes that cause anger, a smile you just totally hate, and when he told me that he was Enlightened, I simply lost it.

I had seen the man taking tokes from his joint, adjusting his sunglasses, sipping beer and laughing like he was better than everyone. And then he let it slip, in the backyard while we were having cigarettes by ourselves:

I'm an enlightened Buddhist.

My reaction was almost instantaneous as I decked him in the face, sending him sprawling into the other party-goers. I stood there for a moment, almost as flabbergasted at myself as everyone else. I am not a violent person, and this was the first person I had ever physically attacked in a serious manner, so I stood there looking at my fist in disbelief.

The man stood there on the floor, dazed and confused, looking at me like he was trying to conceal embarassment and anger. For a second, he looked like he was about to get up and attack me, but then paused.

Why did you hit me? he asked.

I paused for a few seconds and then replied, I don't know, you said you were an Enlightened Buddhist and I just lost it.

I am an Enlightened Buddhist, he said, I don't know what you are.

I replied, "I seriously doubt that, sir. I know I'm not Enlightened, and I'm