subtle differences of Zen Buddhism

yomchi

Hello!

Is it style of meditation, origin, the following of a certain sutra that makes Zen different to the rest?

Thank you

Asiaprod

Jon wrote:

Hello!

Is it style of meditation, origin, the following of a certain sutra that makes Zen different to the rest?

Thank you

I am not an expert on Zen. I did try it many years ago, but it was not for me at that time. I would feel that in general the format of meditation, each groups origin, and the following of a certain sutras applies to all branches of Buddhism. One of the differing factors is probably the means and methods of achieving enlightenment and the concept of reincarnation. For example, some branches of Buddhism subscribe to the belief that a person could return in the form of an animal as a result of a previous bad life. My branch would argue what is the point of returning as an animal, and would say one would return as a human, but the life condition (fortune) of the individual would reflect the previous existence. I am sure some of our Zen practitioners will give you a far better answer to this very interesting question.

maitri

I am not an expert on Zen either.

You wrote:

Is it style of meditation, origin, the following of a certain sutra that makes Zen different to the rest?

When it comes to sutras I've read somewhere that Zen often uses The Diamond Sutra and The Lankavatara Sutra as well as the old Pali Canon. But Zen is also very undogmatic and I've heard about an old Zen teacher who sometimes used Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll in his teachings . He thought it was very useful.

It is also very practice orientated. Sometimes they say that the meditation is Zen. Or even that the sitting meditation is Enlightenment.

BTW, on this page you can find a Zen answer to your question:

http://www.iolfree.ie/~irish_zen/faq.html

It is very Zen of course. the Zen people don't like making segregations between Zen and other directions or even between Buddhists and non-Buddhists. They think such differentiations are based on a misunderstanding.

Zen link: http://www.iolfree.ie/~irish_zen/

yomchi

maitri wrote:

I am not an expert on Zen either.

You wrote:

Is it style of meditation, origin, the following of a certain sutra that makes Zen different to the rest?

When it comes to sutras I've read somewhere that Zen often uses The Diamond Sutra and The Lankavatara Sutra as well as the old Pali Canon. But Zen is also very undogmatic and I've heard about an old Zen teacher who sometimes used Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll in his teachings . He thought it was very useful.

It is also very practice orientated. Sometimes they say that the meditation is Zen. Or even that the sitting meditation is Enlightenment.

BTW, on this page you can find a Zen answer to your question:

http://www.iolfree.ie/~irish_zen/faq.html

It is very Zen of course. the Zen people don't like making segregations between Zen and other directions or even between Buddhists and non-Buddhists. They think such differentiations are based on a misunderstanding.

Zen link: http://www.iolfree.ie/~irish_zen/

Thank you very much!
That was very helpful especially the link to the Dublin group.

Thank you Asiaprod, you are helpful as ever!