Zen-Boeddhistiese selfloosheid as sentrale interteks van die Breytenbach-oeuvre
Literator June 4, 2013 M. Sienaert
The article argues that the Buddhist concept of selflessness is central to the art and writing of Breyten Breytenbach. It contrasts this idea with Western philosophical traditions and analyzes it within Buddhist experiences such as Sunyata, Satori, Zazen, and Taoist relativity. The author addresses a need identified in discussions with colleagues and students: while Zen Buddhism is accepted as a primary intertext in Breytenbach's work, references to concepts like Satori and the Void are often used without clarifying how Buddhist philosophy pertains to the creative process itself. The article suggests that understanding Buddhist principles can elucidate the nature of Breytenbach's oeuvre and the creative experience, rather than treating Buddhist terminology as a mere plot device or moralistic framing.