Originally posted by karoly aczelYou're right. He had great friendships with Suzuki and others who must have had an enormous influence on him. But he never undertook formally to be a pupil of a particular master.
But he was still influenced heavily by the words of Zen masters, was he not?
I suppose a Zen teacher will attempt to show you, step by step, that you are looking for what you already have and it migh be possible, in this "sudden" school of Buddhism, to achieve that without a teacher.....
Originally posted by SwissGambitApparently opposites are an illusion as well, ie. any'thing' opposing any'thing' else. But again on the surface one could be quick to assume opposition is a reality, especially when many believe the illusion so strongly as to actually give their life for their belief.
No. My experience suggests the opposite. I am not a Buddhist.
Originally posted by Pianoman1I believe all worthwhile spirituality has some Zen in it. Even Christians.
You're right. He had great friendships with Suzuki and others who must have had an enormous influence on him. But he never undertook formally to be a pupil of a particular master.
I suppose a Zen teacher will attempt to show you, step by step, that you are looking for what you already have and it migh be possible, in this "sudden" school of Buddhism, to achieve that without a teacher.....
Whether they can be bothered to call it "Zen" is not as important to some.
Same with zazen (meditation), some meditate regularly everyday whereas others are more sporadic.
You must know your own dharma to know which is right for you.
Finding this out may take years, hence some meditate for years without any benefit.