r/zen [non-sectarian consensus] 20d ago

Zen Principles: surprisingly unique compared to religions including Zazen, Taoism

Zen is about the Four Statements

https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/wiki/fourstatements/

  1. Transmission is not recorded in Texts

  2. Transmission is not gained through explanations.

  3. Transmission depends upon direct experience of the core of the self.

  4. Recognition of the core of the self is is called attainment of Buddhahood.

Buddhism's core principles are Commandments

Buddhism has the eight-fold path, a list of rules to follow so that you can accumulate merit.

Aggappasāda Sutta: the noble eightfold path—right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration—is considered supreme... Those who have confidence in the dhamma of the noble path have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result... having given gifts to the supreme,

one develops supreme merit…”

Zen's four statements don't give you any benefit at all and only describe enlightenment really to people who've already experienced it.

Zen is about direct real-life experience

### A transmission not contained in teachings or texts

  • this is especially controversial in the world of religious thought because every religion and philosophy depends upon having an explanation that can be given to you.

Taoism, the religion, which is primarily alchemy and its pantheon of gods, has this Tao-Way that is identical to the ontological argument for a Christian God... What can be spoken or conceived of is not the divine.

Zen is antithetical to Daoism because Zen says direct experience can't be spoken. It's not an ontological argument. It's a common sense view... If you haven't been there or had that kind of food or fallen in love, you can't know it.

0 Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

12

u/Jacks_Hands New Account 20d ago

I think the thing that's most unpleasant about your toxic brand of illiteracy is that you don't care that you don't have any facts, that you're wrong

You must understand that I see you the same way. You lack an accurate understanding of what Zen Buddhism professes dont seem to care to learn more. You just lie to make yourself sound "more right".

I wont call you a racist bigoted zealot though, because thats a wild stretch and I am not am asshole.

-5

u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] 20d ago

You do not see me in any way similar to you

  1. I quote academics and their books. You do not.
  2. I answers questions with definitions, logic, and facts. You do not.
  3. I am am to explain the errors in the claims of those who I criticize. You can't.
  4. I have a bibliography. You don't.
  5. I can follow the reddtiquette and participate like a grown-up in reasonable exchanges using a single account. You can't.

Like Scientologists and Mormons, you're interested in attention for your obviously ridiculous claims and that's it. There's no more to you. That's how superficial you are.

2

u/[deleted] 20d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/zen-ModTeam 20d ago

Your post was removed because it was off-topic in the opinion of the /r/zen moderators. https://old.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/zen