can u be a christian and pratice zen?

Question

or by praticing one do you break rules in the other.

Answer 1

That depends on how literalistic a christian you are.
Some christians believe that the practice of *any* non christian religion is devil worship. Those who believe this could not practice zen and probably would not want to.
Other christians believe that the bible has been thru many translations and interpretations, and when in doubt, go back to the Golden Rule. There is nothing in the Golden Rule that contradicts the practice of zen; in fact, by practicing Zen one can develop an increased appreciation for the first part of the Rule (God is One, love God with all your heart, etc) and increased patience and compassion to carry out the second part of the golden rule (love your neighbor as yourself). For these, less literalistic christians, zen is becomming a popular practice, although sometimes they call it "centering prayer" rather than zen.

Answer 2

Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot practice the two. I've been doin it for years. All that Zen does for you is help get you into a state of mindfulness, where you are more alert and tuned into yourself. It has no religious dogma or rules and adheres to no Gods. In fact, the Dalai Llama himself has many books and articles on how Buddhism and Christianity can coexist. (Zen is merely a branch of Buddhism.) Also, many New Testement Biblical scholars think that Jesus may have in fact been an Essene, which was a cult which practiced meditation and many other aspects of what is today known as Zen.

Answer 3

The concept behind zen is essentially satori or emptying of the mind. This is essentially a paradox as to empty your mind you have to empty the thought of emptying the mind! Think about it.
Christians are aware of the existence of evil spirits that constantly seek your downfall and destruction. One way in which they do this is to get you to reject God. If they can do this, they are half-way there. The so-called "emptying" of all thought leaves you open to suggestion by these spirits in a more uninhibited fashion. Buddha at the height of his "enlightenment" or Buddhahood rejected God. Those Christians who pratice Zen set themselves up for the same.
The difference between the artificial state of Zen and the real world of logic and spirit is similar to the diffference between the steady state theory and the Big Bang theory. One is proven to be unrealistic and the other is proven to be reality. The existence of absolute logic, truth and God is also a reality. The fact that we are not gods is also a reality. So convincing you to reach for a godlike state is a cunning trick played by a most cunning enemy.

Answer 4

The goal of Zen is Satori, or empty mind. Most Christians don't seem too interested in that, but many of the Christian mystics did.

When your mind is empty, it can be filled with God. When it is full, it is your own thoughts and ideas rattling about.

I know you can be Christian and do Zen as the Zen Buddhist don't care, but I'm not sure if it works the other way around. I guess it depends on your particular beliefs and denomination.

Answer 5

A Christian can practice the mind-focusing visualization exercises of Zen and build concentration skills, but that is where the line is drawn. To believe what the Buddhists do, that we can eventually reach a God-like state, is anti-biblical and wrong.

Answer 6

The thing is zen does not believe in a personal God. One can practice some of the external teachings for peace but they have to believe in God and Christ as the Son of God. I am a Devotee of Krishna but I am also a Christian But there is no contradiction accept we understand Christ was a vegetarian and taught reincarnation and Hell was a temporary place to go for sins. The Christian Essenes teach this and it is in their Bible (the original Bible) But We just know who God is compared to the Christians who only know who His Pure Son is. Read the Gospel of the Holy 12

Answer 7

Zen is basically meditation. A Christian can meditate and reflect, simply by self reflection, reflection on scripture, being in silence. When you get into the philosophy of Zen, there the problem exists, NO REALITY OUTSIDE WHAT EXISTS HERE AND NOW read below:

The philosophy of Zen is:

In Zazen, there is no reality outside what exists here and now. Each moment, each act is inherently Buddha-nature. While sorrow and joy, anxiety and imperturbability cannot be avoided, by not clinging to them we find ourselves free of them, no longer pulled this way and that. With this self-mastery comes composure and tranquility of mind, but these are by-products of Zazen rather than its goals.

Zazen is a Japanese term consisting of two characters: za, "to sit (cross-legged)," and zen, from the Sanscrit dhyana, meaning at once concentration, dynamic stillness, and contemplation. The means toward the realization of one's original nature as well as the realization itself, Zazen is both something one does - sitting cross-legged, with proper posture and correct breathing - and something one essentially is. To emphasize one aspect at the expense of the other is to misunderstand this subtle and profound practice.

Answer 8

I enjoy Zen and I am a Christian. Zen designs of interiors and gardens are beautiful and there's nothing wrong with any of that nor meditation, it would only be wrong to be meditating on a false God.

Answer 9

Zen communes with demons? Bungyow makes me laugh.

You probably won't piss off God, but I bet you will piss off the Church. Seriously, its just getting in touch with inner peace. The associated brain patterns for fervent prayer and meditation really aren't that different.

Answer 10

to practice magic arts is too commune with the demons that give the power for magic, meditation if you are focused on Jesus is prayer, if Zen gets your focus somewhere else God will be pissed! So pray and meditate the word and not the other religions, they stole it from us!