All Masters and teachers quoted in the Sub were Avid experienced Meditators and Mostly Buddhist Monks

Glossing over this plain as day fact is really problematic and it concerns me that some people coming across this sub may actually have an interest in actually developing themselves and learning about Zen but rather than offer that in this community space it's really been overtaken by Memes and aggressive Idealogies that reject Meditation and only allow for a particular viewpoint of Zen as defined by the most vocal and argumentative commentators.

Yes there is a philosophical aspect to Zen and it is spontaneous, effervescent, free of all attachment or conceptuality. There is that aspect of it and it's wonderful and important. We can find the joys of this philosophy in so many poetic and interesting stories of the Masters of the past. But what we should not forget is that the background and legitimacy of that approach to life and that Philosophy comes from a deep and sustained background of engagement with life at the raw experiential level. These teachers and students and Masters of the old texts were not only charismatic and sharp in their minds. They were also deeply devoted people. Choosing to live their lives in a way that was separate from the traditional society at the time. Most of them being buddhist Monks their entire lives, living at temples, and sometimes wandering through the world with very few possessions. This is the kind of experiential and engaged aspect of Zen that cannot be disregarded when approaching the mindset and overarching Philosophy of Zen.

I think the moderators should hold themselves to a higher level of responsibility and accountability in facilitating this space to be a entry point to actually understanding and practicing Zen.

Ignoring and avoiding the approach of All Modern Schools of Zen such as the Thién school as it exists in Vietnam, the Zen school as it exists in Japan, the Seon school as it exists in Korea, and of course the original Chán school as it exists in China and in places such as Taiwan is not appropriate.

There are many many modern scholars and teachers of Zen such as Reb Anderson, Thich Nhat Han, Master Sheng Yen, Roshi Joan Halifax, and of course Hsu Yun(Empty Cloud) and many many other modern teachers that have spent decades upon decades upon decades in research, study, and Intensive Meditation.

There teachings set the standards of Zen practice and training and we shouldn't disregard the modern approaches to training in and studying Zen Buddhism.

Such as but not limited to, study, Meditation, and being apart of a community of like-minded practioners who have more experience.

Compassion and Maturation are at the very core and heart of Zen training.

Whoever is reading this, May you be well and happy.

May you be at peace.

Sincerely and with all my care

-Your Friendly Neighborhood Buddhist Monk

Submitted September 25, 2020 at 10:06AM by Heretical_Shavepate https://ift.tt/3kNoaf2