Why are New Age Buddhists so full of hate for Zen that they would call people "assholes" in this forum?

Blyth, Zen and Zen Classics Vol. 3

Hyakujo (Baizhang) taught Isan (Guishan). Isan (Guishan) taught Kyozan (Yangshan).

Guishan said to Yangshan, "The Nirvana Sutra has about forty chapters of the Buddha's teaching; how many of these are devil teachings?"

Yangshan said, "All of them."

Guishan said, "From now on nobody will be able to do what he likes with you."

Yangshan said, "From now on what should be my mode of life?"

Guishan said, "I admire your [Dharma Eye]; I am not concerned about the practical side of the matter."

.

ewk ^? note: This entirely Western phenomenon of the New Age Buddhist doesn't have much beyond the Eight Fold Commandments, The Four Divine and Noble Truths, and a sense of their own spiritual accomplishment. When people bring up Zen Masters, who reject biblical style commandments, truths of any sort, or bragging about attainment, New Age Buddhists are left rudderless. The New Age Buddhist can't claim to study Zen, can't even quote Zen Masters readily, and can't claim to be affiliated with any actual church or organization.

These people are lonely and angry, and Zen Masters are the match that lights these fireworks displays of religious bigotry and intolerance. Cat chopping, finger slicing, throwing people off bridges, kicking pilgrims in the head, beating Buddha to death as he meditated, burning sutras, rejecting authority of any kind over conduct, thinking, or teaching... it's all too much for the Western New Age Buddhist, and the fury erupts.

Naturally, they can't talk about their hatred of Zen Masters. They can't talk about their reverence for religious leaders who have failed them, like Dogen, or Shunryu Suzuki, or Osho.

...and then they come to this forum. They try to give advice on how to behave, but without enlightenment, without studying or practicing Zen, why does New Age Buddhist advice amount to besides poorly disguised Christian moralizing?

Guishan: I am not concerned about the practical side of the matter.

Words spoken in fire.

Submitted March 28, 2018 at 01:59AM by ewk https://ift.tt/2I9FW95