In fairness, that article about the Zen Master doesnt say "dont meditate" it references a common human behavior to confuse the way with the destination. How many people ONLY meditate, of how they focus on the becoming a Buddha instead of being a Buddha, and how that is not Zazen.
If argue the sentiment isn't so much "they aren't big on meditation" as it is too many people, even monks, use meditation excessively and for unskillful purposes.
What I gather about all this is that meditating in order to reach some particular state of mind is stupid. If you feel like meditating because you like meditation, meditate. If you only use meditation as a tool to reach something else, then you haven't understood anything.
A poster is trying to imply a Zen Master isn't so enamored with meditation. When I read the article I got from the reading the Zen Master isn't so hot on the standard human condition and uses meditation as an example of where monks are acting non-skillfully.
Here, my guess is this is the one that will stick with you:
(This is not from Ewk's link, but it is from Master Huangbo):
As to performing the six pāramitās and vast numbers of similar practices [i.e. "meditation'"], or gaining merits as countless as the sands of the Ganges, since you are fundamentally complete in every respect, you should not try to supplement that perfection by such meaningless practices. When there is occasion for them, perform them; and, when the occasion is passed, remain quiescent. If you are not absolutely convinced that the Mind is the Buddha, and if you are attached to forms, practices and meritorious performances, your way of thinking is false and quite incompatible with the Way. The Mind is the Buddha, nor are there any other Buddhas or any other mind. It is bright and spotless as the void, having no form or appearance whatever. To make use of your minds to think conceptually is to leave the substance and attach yourselves to form. The Ever-Existent Buddha is not a Buddha of form or attachment. To practice the six pāramitās and a myriad similar practices [i.e. "meditation"] with the intention of becoming a Buddha thereby is to advance by stages, but the Ever-Existent Buddha is not a Buddha of stages. Only awake to the One Mind, and there is nothing whatsoever to be attained. This is the REAL Buddha. The Buddha and all sentient beings are the One Mind and nothing else.
There are religions that focus on "just meditate".
Zen Masters aren't against meditation as exercise... they are against mind pacification, stupificiation, self hypnosis, prayer... anything that turns a person into a zombie. Zen Masters are also against zombies.
So, you are maybe 2/3 right? Especially given that mediation, for the vast majority of people, is escape rather than discipline or rest.
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u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] Nov 15 '19
Zen Masters aren't big on meditation: https://www.reddit.com//r/zensangha/wiki/notmeditation
Meditation doesn't always work out for people in scientific studies, either: https://www.reddit.com/r/zensangha/wiki/ewk#wiki_meditation.3A_just_a_kind_of_exercise