Mayka, My point is that in the countries that are the birthplace and nursery of Buddhism, it is considered a religion; and in those countries for the most part Zen Buddhism is considered a cult.
It is in the Western world where Buddhism has only recently been adopted that you will find a significant number of people regarding it as a philosophy or a 'way of life'. This is because (IMNSHO) Westerners have adapted it to their way of thinking, and only took the parts they felt comfortable with. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Maria Lopez <flordeloto@...> wrote: > > 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! <BillSmart@...> wrote: > > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > 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 > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
