On the issue of Soto Zen as a religion

[Tai Shi]

Now that must be several weeks ago. And yes to and today Zen Buddhism is a religion. It has literature and guides to live by and patriarchs and matriarchs and in some beliefs dirties and ours are metaphorical and the stories of a Compassionate Buddha move me and I want to be that way and act like that and I don’t believe my statues of the Buddha are alive. They are beautiful representing what he might have looked like and I believe Serenity is possible.
Gassho
Buddhism is my religion
sat/ lah
Tai Shi


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[John.3]

John.3, I've struggled with that question many times especially in discussions with my family. I've taken an "audience" approach that seems to work for me. If my audience sees my practice as a religion, then I refer to it as a religion. If not, I refer to it as a practice. Either way my audience's opinion can not reduce the importance and regard I hold for my "religious practice" (see what I did there? LOL).

I hope that helps in some small way.

Gassho,
Steve (from deep in the religious South)
sat

Thanks for sharing this Adahee.

Gassho,
John
Sat today

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[Tai Shi]

Actually it was Western exploration that called this Buddhism because of statues of the Buddha. In Asia this went bye a variety of names: the Dharma, Zen, Theravada. Others I am not aware of. Most of the names placed on these are probably wrong in Europe and America.
Gassho
sat/ lah
Tai Shi


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[bakera3312]

Does it have to be one and not the other? Cant Soto Zen be both religion and philosophy. or perhaps neither. I think we can use this questions as a Koan about non-duality. Just my 2 cents.

Gaasho

Tony,