Zen meme?

[Shoshin]

I'm in a FB group called Buddhist Humor 2.0.

Someone posted a meme that I found quite funny and accurate.
But someone commented that the person that made the meme doesn't know Zen well.
I share a screenshot of the meme and of my conversation so far.
What do you think? I don't think l am
misunderstanding the teachings . Am I? Are there other Zen schools of thought that teach differently regarding death and rebirth?

One of the things I like about our practice is that it's experiencial. Yes, we may need (I do) certain degree of faith in the practice itself but I don't resonate with schools of thought that tell me that something that we cannot actually know for sure is a certainty. I thought that all Zen schools where devoid of this.

Gassho
Satlah

memezen.jpg
Screenshot 2025-08-28 142335.png

[Jundo]

memezen.jpg
Screenshot 2025-08-28 142335.png

Hmmm. My response (and you can quote me) is that I do not know or much care what may or may not happen in any future life, because I am focused on living gently, compassionately and wisely in the pivot point of this life now. I tend to doubt overly literal, detailed and fanciful imaginings of some future happenings after our hearts stop to beat. But, future lives or no future lives, let us live gently, compassionately and wisely now.

But in any case, I have no fear of death, because I see through it ... and see through birth too. It is like the wave which rises and falls ... and may or may not give birth to future waves ... yet also knows that it is the flowing waters of the still still sea. Oh, death is scary, crashing onto the shore is scary ... yet there is nothing to fear as the sea.

In the meantime, let us all avoid the gallows as long as we can.

That is my response.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shoshin]

Thanks!!
I'll quote you.

I'm curious if other zen lineages/schools "faithfully believe" in rebirth. I thought none did.

Gassho
Satlah

[Jundo]

Thanks!!
I'll quote you.

I'm curious if other zen lineages/schools "faithfully believe" in rebirth. I thought none did.

Gassho
Satlah

Oh, Dogen and many Zen folks have believed in literal rebirth, including time in the Bardo and then rebirth in a new life, in the Pure Land or the like.

Others, especially in modern times, are less literal about that, or more skeptical.

BUT, in any case ... whether Dogen or me or the literalists or the skeptics ... all Zen folks ALSO believe that one can see through and be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, immediately in this very life.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Shoshin]

Oh, Dogen and many Zen folks have believed in literal rebirth, including time in the Bardo and then rebirth in a new life, in the Pure Land or the like.

Others, especially in modern times, are less literal about that, or more skeptical.

BUT, in any case ... whether Dogen or me or the literalists or the skeptics ... all Zen folks ALSO believe that one can see through and be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, immediately in this very life.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

Thanks!

Gassho
Satlah

[Bion]

It's a funny meme, especially if one is a Tibetan buddhist.
The gist is, knowing or not knowing, one who understands and practices buddhism wouldn't be concerned either way, because regardless of rebirth or no rebirth, it is still practice in this particular moment and lifetime that matters the most. Only here and now can I cancel out any past life karma, and only here and now can I put in place the causes necessary for a good rebirth. Tada!

Gassho
sat lah