On Kensho Being Available to All Faiths

Text

I have come to the conclusion that Zen is not a religion in the sense that the term is popularly understood. It has no special doctrine or philosophy, no creeds or dogmas, no ritual or liturgy, and no prescribed form of worship. Kensho—seeing into one's own nature—is available to people of all faiths. A Christian can practice Zen and deepen their Christianity. A Buddhist can practice Zen and deepen their Buddhism. Zen is the practice of coming to the experience that lies at the root of all religions.

license: fair_use

Attribution

• Attributed To
  Yamada Koun

Lineage: Sanbo-Zen

By Yamada Koun

• The Fact of Experienceproverb
• Mu Is Everythingproverb
• The Gateless Barrier of Musermon
• Zen Is Experience, Not Philosophysaying

From Zen: The Authentic Gate

• Zen Is Experience, Not Philosophy

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Zen: The Authentic Gate, introduction

  Zen: The Authentic Gate: On Kensho Being Available to All Faiths