Joe, I checked out my dictionary references and couldn't really discover the difference between 'doctrine' and 'dogma'. My sense of the two words is that 'doctrine' is at a higher level - like mission or strategy, and 'dogma' is a lower level like tasks or tactics. I think that pretty much corresponds with your thoughts below.
Anyway when you talk about the Ch'an sect or Zen sect you're still talking about a sect (sub-set) of Buddhism with that nasty little '-ism' still intact. Now if you want to talk about 'zen' (lower case 'z') as I do, then okay; but 'zen' as I've experienced and practice does not have either doctrine nor dogma - only Just THIS! ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > Using Christianity as a working example to me, and trying to generalize to > other Wisdom traditions, I'd say that the Buddhist teachings are not dogma, > as much as doctrine. > > Could you check me on that? You have good and admirable facility with > dictionaries. > > The doctrine in Buddhism is inseparable from the teaching of Buddhadharma. > What is taught is doctrine. And practice. > > The Zen school, as we all know, however, is NOT the Teaching School. > Regarding Zen, we all remember fondly that: > > "This is a special transmission of Mind, OUTSIDE the Scriptures, not > dependent on words and letters." > > And yet, if we consider the origin of the Ch'an sect, it grew from people who > awakened under the influence of Buddhadharma, which includes all the doctrine > thereof ...and little dogma. If I'm using my words right. Bill!, will you > check up on this? To your satisfaction, I mean? ;-) > > --Joe > > > "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > Mike, > > > > I'll split the difference with you. I'll call the Eight-fold Path not just > > dogma but Buddhist dogma. > > > > I thought the term 'Buddha Dharma' and Buddhism meant the same things. How > > do you see them as different? > > > > ...Bill! > ------------------------------------ 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/
