Why Do Zen Masters Insist That They Have Nothing to Teach

question 9

Multiple Choice

Why do Zen masters insist that they have nothing to teach?

• A) Because enlightenment cannot be taught; it must be experienced
• B) Because most Zen masters remain unenlightened themselves
• C) Because there is such a vast body of knowledge to master that what they know seems trivial
• D) Because they are being humble

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Definitions:

Response Generalization

The phenomenon where the effects of reinforcement for a specific behavior increase the likelihood of other similar behaviors occurring.

Response Maintenance

A type of generalization that occurs when a behavior is performed following the withdrawal of an intervention. It is measured in terms of the strength or durability of learned behaviors once the initial contingencies are removed.

Generalization

The process in which behaviors learned in one context transfer to other contexts that are perceived as similar, extending the reach of learned responses beyond the original settings.

Social Validation

The process of seeking or obtaining approval or affirmation from others in one's social environment.