Zen's non-Buddhist connotations

There are many books about various kinds of Zens, for example, Zen of Hoarding, The Zen of Oz, The Zen of Social Media Marketing, The Zen of Listening, The Zen of Mountains and Climbing, The Zen of Gambling and so on. None of these various Zens are Zen Buddhism.  They are considered to be Zen outside of Buddhism or gedozen (This term is from Zen master Tsung-mi's Five Zens which appear in his Ch'an Preface).

This proliferation of various kinds of Zen which are not connected with Buddhism is noted in the Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition: 

"In popular usage, the modern non-Buddhist connotations of the word Zen have become so prominent that in many cases the term is used as a label for phenomena that lack any relationship to Zen or are even antithetical to its teachings and practices."

The popularity of Zen as a term that can be affixed to almost anything, even breast feeding, may well have affected its once noble place as a sect of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. Presently, anyone's idea of Zen suffices as Zen even though it has nothing to do with Buddhism.  Zen, at this point, can easily breakaway from Buddhism or even appear to be connected with Buddhism although it has nothing in common with the Buddha's teachings.

Modern Zen, in some ways, can become so 'psychologized' that it eventually becomes stripped of its mystical, ontological roots which have traditionally asked the seeker of wisdom to discover their true nature which lies hidden from them such that they are unable to intuit it, directly.  Zen then becomes a kind of self-help psychology; a particular way of dealing with our day to day problems.  There is no consideration of awakening to our true nature, nor do we care to undertake such a journey.  Zen turns into a practice of salvaging our all-too-human ordinary lives moment by moment; never getting beyond samsara. 

 

Comments

[Mikaila]

Thank you so much for the clarification. In my journey of study I have found that many are using the concept of Zen that does not seem to have any connection to Buddhism whatsoever.

"Zen turns into a practice of salvaging our all-too-human ordinary lives moment by moment; never getting beyond samsara." Indeed. :-)

I greatly appreciate you sharing your wisdom and insight. Thank you again.