Zen Buddhism is actually a Chinese version of Buddhism, the practice closest to Taoism in China, and its temperament is also different from other Buddhist sects. Zen Buddhism emphasizes sudden enlightenment and direct access to the original mind. It clarifies several key points o

Zen Buddhism belongs to Buddhism, but Buddhism does not belong to Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is actually a Chinese version of Buddhism. It is the practice closest to Taoism in China, and its temperament is also different from other Buddhist sects. Zen Buddhism emphasizes sudden enlightenment and direct access to the original mind. It clarifies several key points of enlightenment. First, enlightenment is not about realizing a certain truth. Second, enlightenment is not about being desireless or giving up all thoughts. Third, enlightenment is not about enlightenment. It sounds easy to say, but it's also incredibly difficult.

The first ancestor of Chinese Zen , Patriarch Bodhidharma , practiced in Shaolin Temple and passed it on to the second ancestor Master Huike . Therefore, Shaolin Temple is not only the temple of Zen, but also the origin of Zen. Zen was passed down from generation to generation until it was passed to After the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, Zen Buddhism was divided into five sects, namely Linji Sect, Caodong Sect, Weiyang Sect, Yunmen Sect, Fayan Sect. The main classics held by Zen in the early days were the Lankavatara Sutra and the Diamond Sutra. The main purpose of the Diamond Sutra is to get rid of all appearances, so Zen has never advocated idol worship. Zen believes that everyone has Buddha nature and can become a Buddha by seeing it. In the " Tantra Sutra" ", the Sixth Patriarch Huineng said that "the difference between Buddha and ordinary people lies in awareness and unconsciousness", that is: "Those who are confused before thinking are ordinary people, and those who are enlightened after thinking are Buddhas". In other words, the Buddha nature of all living beings is the same as that of ordinary people. There is no difference between Buddhas. The only difference is awareness or not. Awakening sentient beings are Buddhas. Without awareness, Buddhas can only be sentient beings.

Therefore, in Zen Buddhism, there is no word of worship, and there is no such thing as kneeling down to pray to gods and Buddhas, and there is no such thing as entering the Pure Land after death. In fact, those who believe in Zen Buddhism in history are all intellectuals, because they are all intellectuals. It was cultivated in Chinese Confucianism and Taoism, and Confucianism and Taoism denies God and religion. For Confucianism and Taoism, God is just an artifact and a means of discovering the great truth. Therefore, the Zen view has less conflict with the influence of these intellectuals. Since Confucian and Taoist believers have worshiped the Lord of Heaven and Earth and their master , they can no longer worship Buddha as their sect. Zen Buddhism is not rigid in form and adapts to their psychological needs. Strictly speaking, Zen Buddhism cannot survive without traditional Chinese culture. .

Source: Today’s headlines