Is Zen "Buddhism"?

Zen is the "essence" of Buddhism, not the form of Buddhism. By claiming that Zen is only "Buddhism" this would imply that Zen is subjective truth to a selective group of people.

That being said, there is both a Religious experience of Zen and a true experience of Zen. This does not mean that the religious aspects of Zen lead to lesser truths, but more so implies a certain form of 24/7 understanding.

The Fifth Patriarch replied: 'Four hundred and ninety-nine out of my disciples understand well what Buddhism is, except one– Huineng[6th Patriarch] (DT Suzuki, Essays in Zen Buddhism) Zen is the life and spirit of the truths that Buddhism initially proclaims; it is the maturity of realization– the complete totality of understanding compressed in simplicity and beauty.

Zen is the product of the Chinese mind's interpretation of the doctrine of enlightenment. This is not to say that Zen is the "only" Way or path to enlightenment; Zen purports to be the finality of the culmination of the Buddhist minds– and over the centuries these musings have coalesced themselves into an emphatic declaration of truth through the clarity of mind.

For instance: How much of Christianity today is from the teaching of Christ himself?

Christ is meant to be placed as the arbiter and center of Christianity. Current day followers find themselves expressing the teachings of Christ but have added or subtracted doctrines or understandings from his teachings.

Does this mean that Zen is not Buddhism. No. Zen is Buddhism insofar as we can recognize the influence of Buddhist TRUTH (not thought) and practice in what is now Zen.

We must recognize and separate the founder of a religion from the teachings. Understanding this, Zen "Buddhists" are Buddhists in the abstract sense that we recognize the truths of what the Buddha and his patriarchs have laid down for us.

The truths are separated from the religion– but we also cannot deny that we are not Buddhists in the sense that the Spirit of the Doctrine of Enlightenment through the Buddhist interpretations from the Chinese minds have allowed these truths to be disseminated to us.

So is Zen "Buddhism"? Yes and no. Zen is a unique spiritual source that is transmitted from Master to student. There is a religious component as much as there is a truth component as well.

The Buddha is no longer important to our understanding at this point. Yes he is the founder, but the minds of others have come along and have added to the understanding of Buddhist philosophy.

The Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths are all exemplified and are what is culminated in Kensho & Satori. If you ascertain Kensho you make it a 24/7 practice– not to reach enlightenment– but to put into practice your insights.

Hakuin for example especially felt that Post-Satori, the Bodhisattva ideals and the culmination of Bodhicitta for him was realization of the precepts and the eightfold path.

Thousands of fingers pointing– one moon.

Submitted August 18, 2016 at 04:09AM by planetbyter http://ift.tt/2bdT3Zk