What's a Zen Buddhist?

#1 05-08-2011, 04:13 PM

What is a Zen Buddhist?

#2 05-08-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moke64916

What is a Zen Buddhist?

Someone who does a google search before asking a question about definitions of terms.

Perry J · #3 05-08-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moke64916

What is a Zen Buddhist?

Someone trying to answer this question might end up talking about the sound of one hand clapping, fingers pointing at the moon, emptiness, and other mind-boggling things.

I won't even try. After all, Zen is transmitted outside of words, direct from the mind of the teacher to the mind of the student

http://www.logoi.com/notes/whatis_zen.html

Samana · #4 05-08-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moke64916

What is a Zen Buddhist?

This Zen website might be helpful to you. You can ask the Zen teacher questions there and join in their meditation sessions online.

http://www.treeleaf.org/

with kind wishes,

Samana

#5 05-08-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topology

Someone who does a google search before asking a question about definitions of terms.

Balance with the sarcasm.

#6 06-08-2011, 07:42 AM

A Zen Buddhist is a Daoist with Buddhist practices.
True Daoist would be happy with some Qi Gong practices and some wine. Woman and song might be an optional extra, not sure about that. :)

#7 07-08-2011, 01:31 PM

I remember asking a friend this question, about 20 years ago. This is what he told me, ''a man loses his bicycle and then finds it in his fridge''.

At the time, I put it down to his use of recreational drugs!

peteyzen · #8 09-08-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moke64916

What is a Zen Buddhist?

Fish and chips

#9 09-08-2011, 02:57 PM

Invoking the absurd in order to stop the rational mind.

peteyzen · #10 09-08-2011, 08:52 PM

zen is the north face of the eiger, spirituallyy speaking, it breaks down the mind through absolute disciplined effort, and often, as topology says, the absurd is invoked to break down the rational mind,But, for it to work however, absolute belief in your master is required.

Here is a lovely modern zen story from `zen and the art of archery`.
The author was studying japanese zen archery, and had been learning to just draw his bow, nothing else, just draw it for months. One day when he was on the range practicing his bow drawing he aimed at the target a hundred yards away , took aim and fired his arrow, his first shot in months, he hit gold on the target.
His master came over to him and sharply said; `if you do that again you will have to leave`.
the author , a bit upset after his brilliant shot said, `why? isnt that what we are supposed to be here for, shooting the target?`
`No` replied his master `you are here to shoot yourself`
and then he walked off