Zen without Buddhism?

[Rick O'Shez]

Does Zen make any sense without Buddhism?

"Zen" derives from "jhana", and the jhanas are meditative states described in the suttas. So basically Zen is an offshoot of Theravada.

 

[Kartari]

Indeed, Eisai himself explicitly used the Sanskrit term dhyana (which = the Pali term jhana) interchangeably with the term zen in his own writings. Zen is actually a Japanese mispronunciation of the Chinese term chan, which in turn is a Chinese mispronunciation of the Indian terms dhyana and jhana.

 

[mystic64]

Indeed, Eisai himself explicitly used the Sanskrit term dhyana (which = the Pali term jhana) interchangeably with the term zen in his own writings. Zen is actually a Japanese mispronunciation of the Chinese term chan, which in turn is a Chinese mispronunciation of the Indian terms dhyana and jhana.

Hi Kartari and welcome to the message board!

 

[Jeff Strehlow]

The way I see it, Zen is a Buddhist path, so Zen and Buddhism aren't two separate things. Following the basic precepts is one of the Zen practices and is helpful, but persons shouldn't become obsessed with it. Find a place somewhere in the middle that feels comfortable to you. I think it's probably not even possible for persons to practice the precepts perfectly, unless they are already enlightened.

 

[mystic64]

The way I see it, Zen is a Buddhist path, so Zen and Buddhism aren't two separate things. Following the basic precepts is one of the Zen practices and is helpful, but persons shouldn't become obsessed with it. Find a place somewhere in the middle that feels comfortable to you. I think it's probably not even possible for persons to practice the precepts perfectly, unless they are already enlightened.

Hi Jeff Strehlow and welcome to the message board!

 

[crossfire]

I'm not sure if your could separate the four dharma seals out from Zen and still have it be Zen.

http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbuddhistteachings/a/fourseals.htm