2006-10-31 13:27:41 · 13 answers · asked by Aaron A 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Zen is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and 'seeing deeply into the nature of things' by direct experience. Zen emerged as a distinct school in China and spread to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and, in modern times, the rest of the world.
"Zen" is the Japanese pronunciation of the character "禅" which is pronounced "chán" in Mandarin Chinese. The same character is read "Sun" in Korean. Zen is a contraction of the seldom-used long form zenna (禅那; Mandarin: chánnà), which derives from "dhyānam" (Sanskrit) or "jhānam" (Pāli), meaning meditation.
2006-10-31 13:41:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aaron A,
Thos that are into Zen that I have conversed with state that it is not a religion. And then they refer to some that also pratice Zen that are from other religions. And that Zen does not contest with those religions. I find it hard to believe, but then, I have as yet not studied it. So I remain undecided as to whether it is a religion or not.
2006-10-31 21:41:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zen is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and 'seeing deeply into the nature of things' by direct experience. Zen emerged as a distinct school in China and spread to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and, in modern times, the rest of the world.
2006-10-31 21:31:19 · answer #3 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once you put the word "religion" on a believe or practice it takes on ideas and tenets, and in doing that, it becomes governable. Zen is not a state of beliefs. It is, in fact, the ability to not have to have beliefs. There is no law laid down by ... some guy somewhere! It is freedom to just allow/to just be. If you seek it, it will not come. If you allow it.....
2006-10-31 21:49:13 · answer #4 · answered by A V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be used as a practice for meditation or a religion. I like to use zen to relax and exercise my mind with focused thinking. On the otherhand, I am an Evangelist and I believe in Jesus Christ.
2006-10-31 21:33:56 · answer #5 · answered by Go For Broke 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zen is a Japanese flavor of Buddhism. It can be practiced religiously.
2006-10-31 21:57:51 · answer #6 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it can be a relious word view
but to some it's a style
like taoism..
in taoism the good and the bad are balanced... but really evil is a corruption of good not an equal balance
like star warz episode 1... it said Darth Vader was born to BRING BALANCE to the force... no thank you
Zen is rally a type of Buddism...problem in Buddism niranna is the achievement of no desires... all desires even hope are seen as bad... and the nrivana is the extinguishment of desire... in contrast the Bible presents the desires of man as richlyy fullfilled in the glory of God and even God has desires
2006-10-31 21:33:50 · answer #7 · answered by whirlingmerc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends upon the person - to some it is a religion and others it is just a practice.
2006-10-31 21:31:36 · answer #8 · answered by waeyeaw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a religion which you practice.
2006-10-31 21:41:52 · answer #9 · answered by Maus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a type of belief, but not all types of beliefs are religions.
2006-10-31 21:29:37 · answer #10 · answered by AveGirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋