It is a truism to say that Zen without Buddhism is not actually
It is a truism to say which Zen without Buddhism is not actually Zen. In fact, a reduction Zen gounds itself in a Buddhist criterion it deserves reduction respectand righteously so. In a Tang Dynasty, Zen master Tsung-mi said: Those who transmit Chan (Zen) contingency make use of a scriptures as well as treatises as a standard. What Tsung-mi is unequivocally saying is which there should be a little scriptural justification for Zen practices as well as experiences. Where Zen strays from a indicating finger of scripture as well as treatises (shastras), it fails. Moreover, it needs to be reformed or eliminated.
Present day Zen (Zen in a West) is arguably following a course of use which it deems Buddhist. But where is a scripture to back up such claims? There aint none as I see it. In particular, Sotos obsession with just stting, which is, Dogen shinkantaza is not referred to in either a Nikayas or a Mahayana canon. Such an importance upon earthy viewpoint is stupid beyond words. Meditation or dhyna, or jhna in Pali, is essentially a contemplative exercise for cutting by a thick mantle of mental phenomena which, similar to heavy clouds, prevents us from seeing a sun-like radiant Mind. Quoting from a Pali Text Societys Pali-English Dictionay is a great place to start from, so we can get a better hoop upon what meditation (jhna) is unequivocally about.
It is a technical tenure for a special eremite experience, reached in a certain order of mental states. It was originally widely separated in to 4 such states. These may be summarized: 1. The mystic with his thoughts giveaway from sexy as well as worldly ideas, concentrates his thoughts upon a little special theme (for instance, a impermanence of all things). 2. Then uplifted above courtesy & reasoning, he use happiness & palliate of both physique as well as mind. 3. Then a bliss passes away, & he becomes suffused with a clarity of palliate as well as 4. he becomes aware of pristine lucidity of thoughts & equanimity of heart (p. 28! 6).
< p>Does this carillon with Dogen Zenjis just sitting (shikantaza)? Evidentally not. I hasten to add further, which a dictionary, in describing jhna, says which a jhnas have been only a means, not a end. To suppose which experiencing them was equavalent to Arahantship (and was therefore a finish directed at) is cursed (D 1.37 ff.) as a deadly heresy (p. 286). In light of this, isnt sitting-on-ones-butt-dhyna, believing this use to be a very hint of a Buddhist religion, a deadly heresy? How can any earthy use be adequate? No such use can. To support this, a Avatamsaka Sutra says, If earthy action were eremite practice, afterwards eremite use would be walking, standing, sitting, lying down, looking around, up as well as down."Just how distant benefaction day Western Zen (particularly Soto) fails to total with scriptures as well as treatises as a customary is not just guessing, it can be shown. In this regard, Western Zen is becoming a new Hinayana, i.e., a inadequate vehicle.
