Welp, I am genuinely puzzled.

Perhaps that's a good thing.

I study Zen(Zen Buddhism/Dogen Buddhism/WackyInflatableArmWavingLiarDogenZaZen). When I say I study Zen, I mean I practice Zen with a the guidance of a teacher. Majority of public opinion holds the belief(not saying its correct) that Zen is Japanese Zen continued on from Dogen after he brought it from China. This is where the shit hits the fan and right now I don't care. So, when I answer a question from a newcomer about Zazen(Zazen-Prayer-Meditation), I get attacked and accused of things that I feel aren't really accurate. When I addressed a direct question from someone who is perceiving Zen as "Dogen Zen" with a "Dogen Zen" answer, I feel that is appropriate in my mind.

It's not my job to provide disclaimers because someone doesn't agree with it. I chose to help this person because I knew what they were asking. They were not asking questions like: "What is Zen?" "What are the origins of Zen?" "Who are the Zen Masters?". They were asking questions that could only be answered through the lens of a "Dogen Buddhist" perspective.

Differences in opinions? Yes.
Raise it for topic of discussion? Why not?
Generate a post specifically tagging my username and quite literally making things up about me? Probably not necessary and I don't intend to see mods doing anything about that level of harassment. They haven't in the past.

My opinions are branched into two categories here and that's where my confusion deepens.

1. My spiritual practice.
2. My very limited but continued academic study into the history for Zen

My spiritual practice is experienced based, whether or not it's mocked here I don't care, and I have found what Dogen has said to be true. I believe that and I have experienced that with Zazen. I know this has nothing to do with some people's opinion on what "Zen" is and yeah cool whatever if it works for you, cool, just go to r/Buddhism or r/Dogen or etc... just not here at r/zen . Well, I can't necessarily run back to my teacher and say: "Hey! umm Zen is not Zen we can't call it that anymore, k?" Also, that doesn't stop the tsunami of newcomers coming and asking questions about Zen(Dogen Buddhism) and wanting to continue practice or asking for advice. Whether you like it or not, that's the way the plumbing is wired right now.

The second is now my academic pursuit to find out the damn historical truth about it all. I truly want to know, I WANT TO KNOW IT ALL. Starting with Bodhidharma and all of the Chan that spread through China. If there is a connection to Dogen, then I need to discover it myself. I read u/ewk's books and I must admit it cracked suspicion but I cannot just take their word for it.

Right now, I have some burning questions that perhaps some of you could clear up:
I want to know if the Japanese knew about Rujing before Dogen claimed that he trained under Rujing. How and when did Ruijing become known in Japan and by whom?

Was Caodong Dongshan the only Chan sects in China? Where there others? If so, did those one's practice meditation or deny it like Caodong/Dongshan?

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Eventually, I know that my spiritual practice and academic study will merge, and if that means abandoning Dogen's teachings, than, so be it. Right now, that's hard for me because I've actually experience quality in practice and find the marrow of the teachings to be true. However, that could also just stem from the fact that I am finding the marrow to be Buddhism.

My question to the moderators is this: Are people who perceive Dogen Buddhism as Zen allowed to post in r/zen about Zen(related to Dogen)?

I don't know what to call Zen until I investigate it for myself FULLY. I don't know what that means for participation in this forum. Perhaps the fair thing to do suspend participation in r/zen, until my investigation is complete or at least justified, as other's have recommended me to do.

Submitted May 03, 2020 at 04:48AM by YeahRightBL https://ift.tt/2zT78Kf