| The number of Christian
students who have completed koan training under the direction of the
late Zen master Koun Yamada is an indication of a deepening of the
Christian-Buddhist dialogue from the perspective of practice. David Loy,
himself a student of Yamada Roshi, addressed a questionnaire to his
fellow students, and discovered "the most interesting result... was a
division among Christian Zen teachers... between those who want to
maintain a strong distinction between Zen practice and Christian
practice, and those who see them at aiming at the same thing and
therefore to be eventually united - which seems to mean using mostly Zen
practice with Christian terminology." (Buddhist-Christian
Studies, 1989, p. 53, note 2)
Yamada Roshi, for his part, addressed the following questions to his Christian Zen students: "First, why did you not just continue doing meditational practices following your own Christian tradition instead of coming to Zen? Was there something lacking in Christianity that led you to seek something in Zen, or did you have some dissatisfaction with Christianity that led you to Zen?" And also a question to Christians who have had the Zen experience through the Mu koan: "How would you express this experience in your own Christian terms?" (Habito, R., Total Liberation, p. 87) Both David Loy's survey and Yamada Roshi's questions appear to me to point to the deeper underlying question about the relationship between Zen enlightenment and Christian contemplation. Are they the same? What do you think? Now it is your turn to contribute to this discussion. Send us your questions and comments: arraj@innerexplorations.com
Part of the problem is that Catholics don't realize that we have our own traditions that lead to Union with God. That is also the big difference between Zen and Catholicism. Our goal is Union with God thru Love. Response: I think that contact with Zen opens up new
vistas, teaching me that there are possibilities in Christianity I never
dreamed of. The practice of Zen has deepened and broadened my Christian
faith. The contemplative ideal in Buddhism is reminiscent of the
exquisite words in which John of the Cross describes contemplative
experience:
Response from Jim Edwards JimE@thehardwoodcompany.com I have been reading some of your discussions & dialogues about Zen & Christianity. These are the very items that facinate me. I am a practicing Christian raised in the Presbyterian tradition, going off into disbelief & confusion, and finally coming to Christ during the Charismatic movements of the 1970s. I've always been intrigued by Zen thought & meditation, and now practice daily. Many of my Christian friends think Zen is opposed to the Gospel, and while I don't spend alot of time arguing with them about it, it is a concern. Basically, I separate the practice of zazen & the martial arts I practice, from the doctrines of the Buddhist religion, in which I have absolutely no interest. However, Zen practice has enormous benefit to me personally. I'm looking for a teaching/retreat center somewhere in the South (I live in North Carolina) where I can get some instruction in my practice with people of like mind. Your Zen-Christian Dialogue is exactly the sphere I am moving in and want to develop. At the heart of it, Who dwells in the 'Isness'? At the source of it, where thought ends & begins, where breath, heartbeat, light, space melt away into being, Who do we find? His Name is Jesus, looking back at us, drawing us on, perfecting us to be delivered into His Presence. Thank you sincerely for any help you can offer. Jim Edwards JimE@thehardwoodcompany.com Now it is your turn to contribute to this discussion. Send us your questions and comments: arraj@innerexplorations.com |
How to contribute to this discussion