Is Zen a religion?

[Charlie]

Your thoughts?

[Berserker]

I say yes, but it does seem like more of a lifestyle than a religion...

But hell, what do I know...

What do you think Charlie??

[Kenzan]

A Zen response to that question might be something like:

"To be or not to be is not the question-because you cannot have one without the other!"


The word Religion comes from the Latin Religio which, one of the meanings is to "connect with" or "go back to", as in the "source".

The definition of the word is:
a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

I am wondering though, is your question geared in reply to people who may have issue to the rituals associated with Kendo?
My answer to that would be:
Any religion, faith, or spiritual belief, which gets hung up on the metaphors of ritual, and places emphasis on the symbols of faith rather than message itself, is following the path of folly and missing the message all together.

So in effect, I object to the question itself on the grounds that the wonder, mystery and awe of the experience of just being alive transcends labels, icons, mythology, and thought patterns.

In other words, strip the names and nuances, and all that is left is a path that all of us walk, and though the color of the path described often differs,
The direction is always the same.

[Obukan_dude]

I've always thought of Zen as a lifestyle. However, I have only seen this type of behavior in the U.S., so I can't say if that's true for other countries.

[Kenzan]

I always thought Zen was the name of a low-carb rice cracker or exclusive organic bottled tea.

[Bokushingu]

I believe zen is a multi-facet thing. I was told one facet of zen is the pursuit of no-mind. If that is the case all creatures use Zen in every day events. For instance we learn how to walk at 9 months to 1 year old--it's a conscious, repetitive effort. but by the time we are 2, it is no longer a conscious effort: we do it without even thinking about it. We have achieved Zen in that Action.
my conclusion is any type of training/study is a pursuit of Zen in that area...therefore, Zen Buddhism must be the repetitve training in the aspects of Buddhism...and if those that study buddhism view it as a religion than i would say zen buddhism is a religion. unfortunately, i don't know anything about Buddhism and only 1 aspect of zen: the no-mind aspect.

[MrBump]

What's a religion?

[enkorat]

"If I point my finger at the moon, is my finger the moon?"

[Kenzan]

I believe Zen is the sublime realization of the true reality; something I think other organisms have no trouble at all seeing naturally.
It appears that our minds, by creating endless thoughts, takes us away, and causes us to deny and reject, the very truths that from the beginning, are right in front of our faces.


~On the other hand, there is Zen to be found in the enjoyment of a really really hearty bacon-burp.

[Pugtm]

it is a religion because it does deal with the afterlife, therefore disqualifying it as a philosophy. Of course it all depends on your interpretation of the meaning of "Zen" "Buddism" "religion" and "philosophy".

[Halcyon]

Of course Zen is a religion. It is a well-established sect of Buddhism.

[Kenzan]

it is a religion because it does deal with the afterlife, .

How so?
Though I'm no Zen expert, (Now there's a deliciously ironic statement)
I've never read anything in Zen Buddhism which speaks of an afterlife, unless it was speaking metaphorically.

[Ignatz]

It seems to me that in order to be classified as a "religion" it must worship a "god". I don't see that as part of zen, in fact, it appears to be quite the opposite.

Another thing to consider is that the major religions (and I guess some of the minor ones) demand exclusivity. It appears that there is no reason why one cannot be a practicing Roman Catholic, even a priest, and still practice zen without there being a conflict. That being the case, I see no reason why it would conflict with one of the heathen religions. (Little joke folks, if you are offended, tough titties. You are too serious or very young)

Based upon the above, I say Not a Religion.

[Pugtm]

How so?
Though I'm no Zen expert, (Now there's a deliciously ironic statement)
I've never read anything in Zen Buddhism which speaks of an afterlife, unless it was speaking metaphorically.

no its a buddist sect. Buddhism believes in reincarnation and nirvana...

[Bokushingu]

no its a buddist sect. Buddhism believes in reincarnation and nirvana...

my wife is both buddhist and shinto and she was telling me that reincarnation is a shinto punishment for making a grave mistake in your life. and that you will keep coming back until you have corrected that mistake. She believes that this is her third life and that Buddhism will help her fix the grave mistake when she encounters it again in this life. Me i'm Christian so i can't begin to understand, but I fully support her.