What can this sub offer except confusion?

The curious thing about Zen Buddhism is that we have to be enlightened to know what it actually means otherwise we are approaching it by means of our raw opinions or what the literature says in the example of Bodhidharma's definition of Zen 禪. Arguing back and forth over what Zen means fares no better. But the history of Zen before it became a Zen doctrine 禪宗 during the time of Song dynasty was nothing more than an introspective practice, consisting of various techniques, by which one gained nirvana (a supermundane realization). This practice we see in the Dharmatrāta Chan Sutra (411 C.E.). If there was a doctrinal position 宗 to emerge later during Song, it was based on meditational experience itself. And this seems evident when we look at Zenist literature including koans and the houtou. In light of this, what can this subreddit offer the beginner except confusion insofar as the context of Zen is ignored for, instead, a cagey attitude on the part of this sub's dominate participants?

Submitted November 10, 2018 at 12:12AM by Dhammakayaram https://ift.tt/2OBCaYz