What is the difference between Zen buddhists and other buddhists?

Question

I heard they don't believe in reincarnation and they eat meat unlike most buddhists, and even though a lot are in Japan they're atheist and don't believe in Shinto coexisting with buddhism or something cause they're atheist

Answer 1

Zen evolved in Japan long after most other forms of Buddhism had been established. D. T. Suzuki is probably the most respected author on modern Zen, although my favorite is the British author Alan Watts. It is not necessary to believe in God or reincarnation to practice Zen, but belief in karma is basic to all Buddhism, and for this reason, I doubt many Zen Buddhists eat meat. We believe in the inviolability of all sentient beings. That said, many compromises are required to practice Zen in the West. Just as the fundamental tenets of all Buddhism came to Japan from elsewhere, and were changed, so now we in the West are adapting Zen (and other forms) to the realities of life here. That's why I recommend Alan Watts, as he was a Westerner.

Answer 2

There are 84000 types of Buddhism (means a lot)
But Buddhism is divide into 2 main types: Mahāyāna and Theravada.
As far as I know Zen is one of the sub-branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism along with Amidism(Pure Land) and Zen practice the meditation.

Mahāyāna Buddhism believes in reincarnation and they encourage not to eat meat and they also believe they can be a Buddha but Theravada only think they can attain Arhat the most.

even though a lot are in Japan they're atheist and don't believe in Shinto coexisting with buddhism or something cause they're atheist -
maybe you are refering to Amidism or Pure Land - well for pureland, they believe in going to the western pureland after death where the mighty Amitabha were, so that they can get enlightened and come back as a Buddha to help the rest to become one.

Anyway, to me any Buddhism (or religion) can also gain enlightenment.
And to eat meat or not, I think I have answer before :
A believer: Your Choice
A devoter: Try not to.
A mentor : Don't eat at all

A devoter cannot eat 3 types of meat, basically they are:
1) If the animal is kill because of you (if you know its because of you and not for the public).
2) If you see them being killed under your own eyes.
3) If you ordered someone to kill for you.
So if you buy from supermarket it is ok for them.

Just wanna to share some knowledge
Remember : Any Buddhism is the same and can lead you to peace in the mind and soul, eventually to enlightenment.

Amitabha!

Answer 3

zen buddhists mostly just believe that you can be enlightened in this life and it's pretty much all they concern themselves with. As to the meat eating, I think you're thinking of Tibetan Buddhists. Zen is the mystical branch of Buddhism, meaning they have enlightened teachers and the goal is to become one with the teacher. A Zen 'master' is a living enlightened teacher.

Answer 4

Okay, you are 'mistaken' when you say that a Zen Buddhist is an 'atheist' ... they 'don't believe in a god' but that's not the same as not believing in ANY GOD ... Zen Buddhists believe that there is 'a god' in each one of us, and use 'Zen meditation' to 'get in touch with the god inside themselves.' Buddhism 'in general' all comes from the MAN Gautama Buddha, and his 'life' and 'meditation' ... but from that one man there are as many if not more 'sects' than there are different types of Christian religion. Some do believe in 'a god' and others don't, some believe only in 'life on this planet' while others believe in reincarnation, and others in an 'afterlife' in another 'universe.' ALL ARE VALID FORMS OF BUDDHISM, just as all 'forms' of Christianity have some validity, even though it may be a 'wrong' validity to others.
Zen is a 'meditation exercise' that can be done 'sitting still' or 'moving about.' There are several 'questions' that go with this, such as the famous "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" I know the 'answer to this' ... and there are actually two completely 'different' answers to it. I won't tell you what they are, though, because it's something that each person must 'find out for himself.' You may NEVER come up with a 'good answer' or you may come up with many more 'valid' answers than my two ... that is TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
In Japan, there is a religion we know as Shinto ... some people will tell you that it's NOT a 'Buddhist religion' while others say they can both 'coexist' because they cover 'completely different ideas.' Both are 'correct' and both are 'incorrect' at the same time ... which is one of the most AMAZING things about Buddhism in general.
What is the 'difference' between the different 'sects' of Buddhism? What is the 'difference' between me 'being a Buddhist' and the persons on either side of me, or in front of or behind me? We are each 'totally individual' and in Buddhism it's THAT that is the 'first precept' of Buddhism in general.
I'm now a Catholic ... but I have 'seriously studied Buddhism in general' as well as having 'lived and worshipped' in a Vietnamese Buddhist Temple under a 'teacher' whom many would call a 'Saint' ... and even though I am 'fully Catholic now' I bring my 'Buddhist sensibilities' to that religion ... and there is no 'line between' them keeping them 'separate' in the way I 'practice' my Catholicism and 'live' my life in general. I've also 'studied seriously' and practiced several 'other religions' and those, too, have some 'validity' in WHO I AM NOW ... all are 'valid' still, and I think they actually make me a VERY GOOD CATHOLIC.
So ... you will need to 'truly study' the 'religion' of Buddhism plus 'actively pursue' at least two of the 'sects' before you make 'blanket statements' as your 'beilief' that there are 'Buddhist atheists' ... it's 'sort of correct' but is also 'very incorrect' and YOU NEED TO STUDY THE RELIGION before you can 'fully understand' when I say it's valid and invalid at the same time.
In the end, though, whatever 'relgion' you decide to 'choose' last before you die ... I'll 'see you in Heaven' ... because one 'thing' I have learned through my 'serious study' of most of the 'religions' in this world ... that this is just a 'learning place' (a school) and that our 'real life' won't happen until we 'get to Heaven' ... and that is ALL of us, even the 'serial killers and mass murderers and child molesters' ... they may have to 'do some time in Purgatory/Hell or even 'be reincarnated several times' to learn their lessons here ... but IN THE END we will ALL be in Heaven ... and I am looking forward to that, because I want to learn 'the rest of the story.'

Answer 5

As far as any sect of Buddhism being atheist - Buddhism as a whole is a nontheistic religion.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism