Clarifications, et al.
Recent post, On Zen Buddhism. To me, Zen Buddhism is a life philosophy more than anything. According to my research, it does not have the necessity for a supernatural being or reincarnation. The ultimate goal is Nirvana (nothingness).
Some had mentioned that Buddhism (may I remind you that I specifically said “Zen Buddhism”) was agnostic. Agnostic is the belief in god with no or little religious beliefs. This is almost the opposite. I believe in peace and nature and have many similar core values:
Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and ‘seeing deeply into the nature of things’ by direct experience. (Wikipedia.org)
I also heard that Buddhists must believe in reincarnation. I used to when I was eight, but I’ve already mentioned that. According to Zen Buddhism, there is no afterlife to speak of. Being a Buddhist and an atheist can be very compatible, according to some.
“I’m a Zen Buddhist,” I said, a little surprised by the question, “Reincarnation is not part of the Mahayana mystical path. It’s very much a part of the Vajrayana or Theravadin paths, but in Zen, questions about reincarnation just don’t arise. I’m afraid I can’t speak for the speakers – the monks who just left.”
“So how is Zen so different from those other systems if they all lead to the same goal but some believe in reincarnation while Zen doesn’t?” he continued.
“Zen doesn’t refute these approaches because they serve to help discipline people and prepare them for future forays into mysticism. But Zen is a mystical path; it presupposes that the person who practices it has essentially prevailed in these early ethical struggles. At that point, he or she can dispense with rewards and punishments altogether. According to Zen, there’s nothing to be gained or lost, and there’s nothing to be attained. Heaven is here right now – it’s what we call Nirvana because it is free of ego. And Hell is here right now too – we call it Samsara because it’s full of ego – and because it’s full of ego, it needs the fear or hope of punishment and reward. Which one we chose to live in depends only on us and the effort we’re willing to make to exit Samsara. Zen training involves practices that help us to discover for ourselves that we already possess everything, that there is nothing to attain. It’s the attainment of non-attainment.”
He looked at me quizzically. “But I thought all Buddhists believe in reincarnation,” he said. “Some do, and some don’t,” I repeated. (hsuyun.org)
Like I’ve said before, this is more of a life philosophy for me, not a religion. I don’t prescribe to any religion or afterlife. I live in the here and now and want to make the best of life selflessly.
Anyway, isn’t reincarnation in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism?
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Well said. Buddhism is compatible with atheism, as there are many people that are both. Buddhism is not monotheism.