What is the relationship between Zen and Taoism? I am studying for a while this subject and until now I found many completely different replies to this question. I found articles and even a book (the Tao of Zen - http://www.shared-visions.com/reviews/review.cfm?ISBN=0804819882 ) that states that Zen it's not in fact a form of "Buddhism" but it is Taoism disguised as Buddhism + Indian meditation. I also found completely different opinions which state that Zen is 100% Buddhist, having absolutely no connection with Taoism, and that some people thing that there is such a connection only because when Buddhism arrived in China some Taoist words where used in translation of sutras. The most accepted opinion seems to be that Zen is both Buddhist and Taoist having Buddhism as it's father and Taoism as it's mother. But even here there are large differences, some thing that Taoism and Zen have the same path but different goals, some thing that they have different paths but the same goal, while other thing that they have similar (but not identical) paths and similar (but not identical) goals (which seems to be Alan Watts opinion). What is your opinion? Someone who belongs to Zen is a Zen Buddhist, a Zen Taoist, or he is simply Zen-ist (which would mean both Buddhist and Taoist or bot not-Buddhist and not-Taoist) like the article http://www.taoism.net/articles/chantao.htm seems to say ("Ch'an is empty, there is nothing in it. There is no room for any -ism, not Buddhism, not Taoism")? It would be very helpful if someone who practiced in both traditions/religions could describe his/her experience.
PS: When I am saying "Zen" I am referring mainly to Chinese Ch'an than to Japanese Zen, but I am using the term "Zen" because it's more popular. PS(2): I sent this message to 3 groups: a Zen group, a Taoist group and n ZenTaoism group so we can see different opinions. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/hjtSRD/3MnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> 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/
