Bill; Yes in many Eastern Countries Buddhism is regarded as a religion. Still there are Buddhist traditions with the description given by Steve. Mayka
--- On Thu, 31/3/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote: From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, 31 March, 2011, 2:42 Steve, I agree with your reply to my post below. I will also extend it to say that most (or at least a large number of) Buddhists do not consider Zen Buddhism as a ligitimate expression of Buddhism and consider it cult. I say this after talking with numerous Buddhists (including Buddhist clergy) in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "SteveW" <eugnostos2000@...> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > Steve, > > > > I fundamentally disagree. > > > > Buddhism, as well as Judiasm/Christianity/Islam, and all other religions I > > know about are based on the essense of zen. They are all, including > > Buddhism, just layers that have been built up around zen and serve to > > occlude the essense of zen to varying extents. I will say that Buddhism has > > the least occluding layers of the religions I have read about, but it still > > has a lot. > > > > ...Bill! > > > Hi Bill! In my opinion, there are two aspects to the human phenomenon of > religion. One aspect is the evolved religios which binds society together in > a shared identity. This is just an evolved trait that is useful from the > view-point of group selection. The other aspect is the awakened insight into > Suchness. But some religions as they exist now are more effective vehicles > for encouraging awakened insight into Suchness than others. Within each of > the Big Three Abrahamic traditions, there have arisen minority mystical > movements that are a spontaneous expression of Enlightened Mind, but they > have always been regarded as heretical. Even the most literal-minded Pureland > Buddhist realizes that the ultimate goal is awakening. They just want to go > to Buddhist Heaven where they imagine that awakening will be easier. But they > still understand that ultimately it is more than just going to Heaven. And > so, as you yourself note, Buddhism has the least occluding layers. The average Christian would not regard Meister Eckhart as being a real Christian. > Steve >
