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Sementivae, named after the Roman festival held in honour of Ceres (the goddess of agriculture) and Tellus (Mother Earth) is a weblog activated in response to the indelible, continual depletion of the Earth's resources, the decimation of its eco-systems, and the endangerment of its species. Bio-diversity is essential to survival of life on Earth, and of Earth itself. By sharing information, articles and resources on this weblog, it is intended that a valuable contribution will be made to maintaining and restoring the bio-diversity of Earth.



2008/09/04

Zen At War?

I have in my hands a book called Zen At War. Not read anything of it except the blurb, which goes: "Zen At War challenges Buddhists to think through the ethical consequences of venerated doctrines and examine them in light of the Buddha's original teachings". The cover art depicts Japanese military manoeuvres, implying a contrary violence.

The author's name is Brian Daizen Victoria, and his biography reveals that he is a Soto Zen priest.

I will be interested to read this book as it is my opinion that Zen is no more Buddhism than Protestant Christianity is Sufi Islam, though both have a definite point of historical confluence.

Posted by Sementivae at 11:00

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2 comments:

Matt Stone said...

On what basis do you say Zen Buddhism is not Buddhism? Most Zen teachers I have ever read explicitly identify themselves as Buddhist, their tradition arose directly out of Buddhist tradition, the use Buddhist scriptures, their goal is the same as other Buddhist traditions, they share a Buddhist worldview that is quite distinct from other traditions, like Hinduism. On what basis do you say this?

September 7, 2008 5:14 AM
James Garry said...

On the same basis that a human and a mushroom share an antecedent though they have evolved into quite separate things.

On the same basis that Christianity and Judaism are distinct beliefs or theologies, though historically related.

As Christianity is a gentile's revision of Judaism, Zen is an Oriental's revision and evolution of Indian Buddhism.

Unless you would deny that the respective societies, pre-existing philosophies, cultures, ages, politics, biological differences (etc.) of the Indian and Oriental peoples would not produce distinct traditions.

To study Zen and Buddhism in isolation, without prejudice, with no historical knowledge of their beliefs and practices would lead the most sage observer to conclude they are different philosophies.

Whether your Zen teachers define themselves as Buddhist is another matter altogether.

My opinion - and I stress this is only my opinion - is that Zen Buddhists are Buddhist in name only.

To quote TD Suzuki:

"[W]hen we come to Zen...we are compelled to acknowledge that its simplicity, its directness, its pragmatic tendency, and its close connection with everyday life stand in remarkable contracst to other Buddhist sects.

Therefore, I make bold to say that in Zen are found systematized...all the philosophy, religion, and life itself of the Far-Eastern people, especially the Japanese".

September 12, 2008 11:13 AM

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