by Leeda Luciano

Created on: September 01, 2008

In a discussion of Zen and Christianity there can be many directions. The previously posted articles make some enlightening and intelligent comments on the differences and the similarities in the "form" of Zen and Christianity. I would like to talk a little about the content of these two belief systems. I believe that there is a fundamental difference in their content, regardless of which particular "form" we examine. There is also a fundamental similarity. The goal of both Christianity and Zen is to bring the disciple (and I use this word in its true sense of being a "learner") to a union with God.

The main difference in content is that Christianity follows the concept that God exist as a being, separate from his creation, and union with God requires certain actions. This same Christian/Judean concept is found in many primitive earth religions. There are rituals of cleansing, rituals of sacrifice, and rituals of devotion that are necessary to "appease" God and enter into a harmonious relationship with Him/Her
The form of these rituals change, but the content remains pretty much the same.. there is an action that must be taken either by the supplicant, or by God, in order to restore the creation to a place of grace or union with God.
Zen, on the other hand,.. like most belief systems of Eastern origin.. see Union with God as your inevitable place in the universe. God is the whole and you are a part of that whole.. the whole cannot be diminished. . you cannot be separate. The concept of separation is an illusion. The rituals of this belief system are designed to wake the sleeper and bring him to a knowledge of his true state of union with the "Oneness"
There is also another fundamental difference between the two belief systems.. one that I think is very important. Christianity promises the salvation of a particular "soul".. or self. You get to go to God with your ego intact. And I use the word "ego" only to describe that part of the mind that sees itself as a separate and sentient being, apart from all others. While, conversely, the nature of Zen is that the self must be abandoned in order to realize that you are in union, already. It is the misconception that you are an "individual self" that blocks your realization that you are indeed one with all things.
These are just my personal thoughts..and I fully realize that my opinion of these things do not represent anything except my own limited viewpoint

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