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basic question
Is there a difference between Zen Buddhism and Buddhism?
0
Comments
Zen and Buddhism are both 'orthodox' schools within the Buddhism umbrella. Zen differs in that it's sort of the odd child with it's methods. Most schools go with a gradual training, gradual realization of truth approach. Zen is the school that attempts to bring on sudden realization, sudden enlightenment.
Many school have koan practice, some schools still beat you with a stick when you are asked a question and give a wrong answer. The kicker is that all answers are wrong so you get beat with the stick no matter what. Zen tends to use approaches that the thinking mind can't comprehend in order to get the original mind working (or something like that).
For the most part teachers from non zen schools seem to respect Zen so to each their own.