Bill: Zen Buddhism is not a religion but a way of living. A different matter is if people make from that a religion. And the same rule will be applied to those who make from zen a religion. No difference. My experience here is that if one will follow the instructions given can inmediately have an experience of the present moment. The present moment is a most important key and cores of zen. According to my personal experience in the TNH tradition which is Zen Buddhism this is the much easier and short cut to get into the wave of zen. As zen is presented in action over the 24 hours a day and not just by sitting down in the cushion. To me is a much easier way to disclose the insight of the sort of koans given in the TNH tradition such as "Present moment, wonderful moment" or "mindfulness" or "breathe you are alive" rather than the complicated nonsense given by other zen traditions given one just a headache. The ones given by TNH awakes something in one. All zen traditions including the Soto have the guides and teachings of the Buddha and sutras as a way to introduction and guidelines. Though it's true that through practice and in time all that start to be discarded by itself. Mayka --- On Sat, 26/3/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] Re: Clues to the meaning of Zen To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, 26 March, 2011, 1:10 My comments are embedded in your list below. If I don't comment on something it means I agree: --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > Clues to the meaning of Zen > Because Zen is so hard to explain here are some quotations that may help > you get an idea of it: > > * The essence of Zen Buddhism is achieving enlightenment by seeing > one's original mind (or original nature) directly; without the > intervention of the intellect. > * Zen is big on intuitive understanding, on just 'getting it', and > not so hot on philosophising. > * Zen is concerned with what actually is rather than what we think or > feel about what is. > * Zen is concerned with things as they are, without trying to > interpret them. > * Zen points to something before thinking, before all your ideas. > * The key to Buddhahood in Zen is simply self-knowledge. [Bill!] I don't think 'knowledge' is a good choice of words. I'd substitute 'awareness'. > * To be a human being is to be a Buddha. Buddha nature is just > another name for human nature - true human nature. [Bill!] Buddha Nature applies to all sentient beings, not just humans. > * Zen is simply to be completely alive. > * Zen is short for Zen Buddhism. It is sometimes called a religion > and sometimes called a philosophy. Choose whichever term you prefer; it > simply doesn't matter. [Bill!] I definitely classify Zen Buddhism as a religion. All religions do have some philosophy in them. Just plain 'zen' however is not a religion or a philosphy. (See below) > * Zen is not a philosophy or a religion. > * Zen tries to free the mind from the slavery of words and the > constriction of logic. [Bill!] Zen doesn't 'try' to do anything. > * Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's > own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom. [Bill!] I don't like the references to 'bondage' and 'freedom'. Zen is not a silver bullet-train to happiness. It is acceptance of life as-is. > * Zen is meditation.
