by Ernest Smartt

Created on: September 01, 2008   Last Updated: September 03, 2008

The question I want to address is "can Christianity and Zen be combined successfully, without violating the Christian faith?" It should be noted that since Zen is not a matter of faith, Christianity would not violate Zen in any way. What an interesting journey, this search for some way to address Christianity and Zen in the same project. I do not intend to necessarily compare Christianity and Zen, however comparisons will be mentioned informally here.

Christianity is a religion, and Zen is not a religion in the truest sense.

MEDITATION: NEED AND APOPROACH

Christianity has both a need for meditation and a command to meditate. However this meditation is not a source of self-realization as is the case with Zen. Joshua, in the Old Testament, was commanded to meditate on the "book of the law." The purpose was "so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (Deuteronomy 31:24, Joshua 8:34) Clearly the purpose for the meditation was to "hide the Word in his heart" Here and most other places where meditation is commanded it is placing ones mind upon something specific. With Zen the mind was to be focused on nothing or something that caused the person to look within himself and realize that actually nothing is there. In the New Testament It is commanded or advised that Christians focus on that which is good and of high moral quality. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these Things." (Philippians 4:8) To meditate as Zen practices would seem to be a contradiction to the methods and purposes of Christian meditation. Zen reaches inward to find enlightenment, and Christianity reaches upward to seek God .

MEDICATION CAN BE CALMING BUT CANNOT REMOVE SIN.

According to Christianity all men are sinners, and cannot rid themselves of that sin by themselves. According to Zen it is possible to even reach perfection, but certainly become far more perfect than the average man. there is no mention of sin in the practice of Zen. This is also a contradiction. With Christianity, God, in Christ, is where forgiveness and perfection comes from. Christians are being made perfect, but until they see Him (Christ) face to face they will not be perfect. Through Zen meditation one is said to be able to be enlightened as

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