Hi,
The following should only be of interest to real Zen history fans, although there might be some aspects of interest to those trying to join Zen Practice with Christianity.
In a nutshell, for those who don't know, Amida Buddha is a messiah like figure who, with faith and recital of his name, takes one to a heaven-like "Pure Land" at death where enlightenment is guaranteed. There truly are many parallels to Jesus in that regard.
In Japan, Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are generally very separate, although a few people do practice both. In China, Korea and Vietnam, however, Zen and Pure Land are all mixed together, and have been for a few hundred years since about the Ming Dynasty (although even before that really). There were some tensions when some Chinese Ming Dynasty monks called the "Obaku Sect" came to Japan to practice both RInzai Zen and Pure Land together. Generally, it did not catch on, and Zen and the Pure Land remain separate in Japan.
The interesting aspect of the article however (to me anyway) is how the Obaku monks gave a very Zenny interpretation to the Pure Land doctrines, e.g., that Amida and the Pure Land is just within us, not an outside being and place. The Obaku folks, as Rinzai monks, use Amida as a Koan during Zazen, etc.
If you are interested in such an arcane topic, here is the article:
An additional, very long article on how the Pure Land doctrines were adjusted in many ways to "fit" with Zen (Chan) in China, for those really really interested in the topic.
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
The following should only be of interest to real Zen history fans, although there might be some aspects of interest to those trying to join Zen Practice with Christianity.
In a nutshell, for those who don't know, Amida Buddha is a messiah like figure who, with faith and recital of his name, takes one to a heaven-like "Pure Land" at death where enlightenment is guaranteed. There truly are many parallels to Jesus in that regard.
In Japan, Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are generally very separate, although a few people do practice both. In China, Korea and Vietnam, however, Zen and Pure Land are all mixed together, and have been for a few hundred years since about the Ming Dynasty (although even before that really). There were some tensions when some Chinese Ming Dynasty monks called the "Obaku Sect" came to Japan to practice both RInzai Zen and Pure Land together. Generally, it did not catch on, and Zen and the Pure Land remain separate in Japan.
The interesting aspect of the article however (to me anyway) is how the Obaku monks gave a very Zenny interpretation to the Pure Land doctrines, e.g., that Amida and the Pure Land is just within us, not an outside being and place. The Obaku folks, as Rinzai monks, use Amida as a Koan during Zazen, etc.
If you are interested in such an arcane topic, here is the article:
An additional, very long article on how the Pure Land doctrines were adjusted in many ways to "fit" with Zen (Chan) in China, for those really really interested in the topic.
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
).
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