On the subject of enlightenment

Would you mind helping me understand the relationship between Zen, Zen Buddhism and r/zen?

After reading the sidebar, the works of Shunryū Suzuki, and starting A Bird In Flight Leaves No Trace I am realizing that i do not have a good foundational understanding of zen.

I am gathering that Zen and Zen Buddhism are not the same. That Zen Buddhism is a religion and that Zen is an (sometimes) instantaneous technique aimed at realizing the true and simple nature of reality.

Paradoxically, r/zen seems to place very little value on the practice of meditation (despite my understanding of the word Zen). Although everyone seems to agree on the value of Koans.

r/zen appears concerned specifically with the teachings of “Zen masters”, though who qualifies as a master tends to be a topic of debate.

The question I have is on the subject of enlightenment. Zen appears (and please, please correct my inaccuracies) to see enlightenment as a spontaneous understanding which is achieved suddenly. Zen Buddhism (as practiced through my understanding) has a closer relationship to dharma and karma, specifically in the freeing oneself from the implications of karma.

Does Zen and r/zen believe in dharma and karma? Is their a perspective on life after death? Does reaching enlightenment have an effect on ones journey beyond this incarnation?

Full disclosure, I’m a Taoist and DAOM. I don’t believe in enlightenment past a (lowercase) personal awaking. But my study of the tao keeps rubbing up against zen. It is beautiful in all its forms and I would love to understand it more deeply.

Thanks!

Edit: Words are hard.

Submitted December 31, 2019 at 07:14PM by BenevolentDead https://ift.tt/39t26kO