Zen Buddhism vs. Buddhism...

[kfson]

What the heck is the difference and if so, why is there a difference?
Should Buddha have been consulted with this change?

[GeneChing]

Zen is one of those disciplines.

A parallel question might be "What is the difference between tai chi and yang tai chi?"

[kfson]

Zen is one of those disciplines.

A parallel question might be "What is the difference between tai chi and yang tai chi?"

What are the other disciplines and why are there more than one?

[uki]

What are the other disciplines and why are there more than one?

imagine a single beam of light as it goes thru a crystal... disciplines are the colors on the other side.

[kfson]

imagine a single beam of light as it goes thru a crystal... disciplines are the colors on the other side.

Shouldn't there be one system and individual buddhas?

[uki]

Shouldn't there be one system and individual buddhas?

there are no buddhas.

[GeneChing]

Zen and Chan are phoneticizations of dhyana, which is meditation. Other methods are disciplines like chanting, karma work, study of the sutras, koan, and more. Zen is also distinguished as a school of Buddhism. But you should just wikepedia all this and not listen to posts on a forum. That's unlikely to be fruitful.

If you really want to know, visit a zendo.

[uki]

Zen and Chan are phoneticizations of dhyana, which is meditation.

dyhana is also the name of our midwife.

[Lucas]

if in your travels you see buddha on your path, kill him...

although im not buddhist, so i probably would just walk past him and never know.

[David Jamieson]

as Gene has said, check out sources besides a net forum.

for instance, here's a quick answer from an authoritative figure in buddhism: http://www.buddhanet.net/ans11.htm

But, in buddhism, there are as many sects and practices as there is in pretty much any other religion.

christians have all sorts fo sects, jews as well as do muslims within islam, and hindus, well don't get me started on hindus! lol

zen itself is divided down even further as far as sects go and disciplines.

no spiritual pursuit is ever one size fits all.

[Egg fu young]

I'm disappointed I thought you had a clip

[David Jamieson]

I'm disappointed I thought you had a clip

a clip of what? someone sitting cross legged wit their eyes near shut?

[Scott R. Brown]

Buddha understood that all individuals have different temperaments, intellectual abilities, educational levels, inclinations, personalities, etc. All teachings are flawed and subject to misunderstanding. Due to these variables "expedient means" is used to assist those of varying abilities. That is, innumerable different kinds of teachings may be used to accommodate the needs and abilities of the individual.

The Western method is to have the individual accommodate to the teaching, within Mahayana Buddhism the teaching accommodates to the individual. Meaning there are many teachings for many different needs of individuals.

The requirement for a fixed teaching is a western characteristic whose origin is found within the religions of The Book, specifically, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Buddhism (Mahayana specifically) does not rely on fixed teachings even though they tend to favor specific Sutras. To require a fixed teaching is to encourage clinging the avoidance of which is the main principle of Buddhism.

Having said that it is not that non-clinging is a doctrinal requirement as doctrinal requirements tend to be viewed from the western theological perspective.

Non-clinging is more of a incomplete description of what occurs when one is free. Non-clinging is not something one must DO in order to be free, when one is free non-clinging occurs.

[kfson]

Buddha understood that all individuals have different temperaments, intellectual abilities, educational levels, inclinations, personalities, etc. All teachings are flawed and subject to misunderstanding. Due to these variables "expedient means" is used to assist those of varying abilities. That is, innumerable different kinds of teachings may be used to accommodate the needs and abilities of the individual.

The Western method is to have the individual accommodate to the teaching, within Mahayana Buddhism the teaching accommodates to the individual. Meaning there are many teachings for many different needs of individuals.

The requirement for a fixed teaching is a western characteristic whose origin is found within the religions of The Book, specifically, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Buddhism (Mahayana specifically) does not rely on fixed teachings even though they tend to favor specific Sutras. To require a fixed teaching is to encourage clinging the avoidance of which is the main principle of Buddhism.

Having said that it is not that non-clinging is a doctrinal requirement as doctrinal requirements tend to be viewed from the western theological perspective.

Non-clinging is more of a incomplete description of what occurs when one is free. Non-clinging is not something one must DO in order to be free, when one is free non-clinging occurs.

I suspected that, so why the Buddhist differences?

[taai gihk yahn]

Shouldn't there be one system and individual buddhas?

there SHOULD be!!!


but there isn't...