L - page 1 of 8

N E N E S SOSince Buddhism was first intro-America, Zen has been morebarrier of Shin Buddhist teachers.Furthermore, Shin Buddhism wasborrowing Christian concepts andetc., were used. In this way Shinthe devotional type, whereas Zenare to be found in the natures ofpeople. If we look at American cul-tianity, we see that Christianity ismore of the devotional type. Andcan religion already on the scene,were looking outside their familiarZen Buddhism appeals more tocontemporary Americans becauselife. From this ground, Zen speakscan culture is very much based onindividualism, but this individual orZen addresses itself to this aspectthe Buddha said that the fivement of materialism, the overem-problems. The underlying dualismand the basic dichotomy of Ameri-can culture must be overcome.How? By each individual within hisShin Buddhism, in its essence,is no different from Zen—but be-But I would like to propose that thefuture American Buddhism will beBoth Zen and Nembutsu weretaught by Gautama Buddha, thedhism became a way of living inZen was brought to China byBodhidharma who came from Indiaabout 520 A.D. He attracted manyChinese people, including the em-peror, and Zen developed as aas the founder of Zen, called Chaninto Zen and created the true Zenspirit that we know today. Throughthe Tang and Sung dynasties ZenEisai, the founder of Rinzai Zen went to China in the twelveth cen-tury, studied and practiced and

Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 1

Quarterly Newsletter of the Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose Dharma Legacy Vol. 4 No. 3 Fall 2000

duced and began to be practiced in

adopted by native Caucasian Ameri-

cans. This is due both to the nature

of Zen, and to its excellent presenta-

tion. Shin Buddhism did not spread

as much as Zen among the Cauca-

sian people because of the language

presented in terms of Christianity by

words. Christian terminology such as

faith, prayer, salvation, worship, Lord,

came to be greatly misunderstood by

non-Japanese American people.

Religiously, Shin Buddhism is of

Buddhism is a more intellectual and

disciplinary way. These differences

ture and at its major religion, Chris-

since Shin was presented using bor-

rowed Christian terminology, it is only

natural that the Americans generally

were not interested in Shin. It seemed

almost identical to the major Ameri-

and at a time when many Americans

religions for a new spiritual viewpoint.

Shin is basically much different from

the Zen approach attracts the intel-

lect, although Zen is not intellectual-

ity, Zen points to the true nature of

to the intellectual American. Ameri-

self is mostly ego self. Such an ego-

centered culture has created many

problems individually and collectively.

Through the nature of its teaching,

of our culture. Zen teaches this fact:

skandhas (five senses) are illusion,

and that we must look to the true self.

Many of us in America are beginning

to recognize that the over develop-

phasis on ego success, has brought

about mental alienation and social

or her own life. Zen in particular, Bud-

dhism in general, points to a new per-

spective in life. The Zen approach is

very simple and direct.

cause of its Christian-like presenta-

tion, it has tended to be rejected by

those Americans who have come in

contact with it. At the date of this writ-

ing (1976), there are very few non-

Japanese Americans who recognize

“Shin Shu” as referring to Buddhism.

Zen in nature and Nembutsu in spirit.

founder of Buddhism. Neither devel-

oped in India, both were well devel-

oped in China. Because the Chinese

were practical, down-to-earth people

as well as great philosophers, Bud-

China rather than a system of meta-

physical speculation.

school. Bodhidharma is looked upon

in China. However, not until Hui-nen,

the sixth patriarch in China, did Zen

really become itself. He breathed life

flourished and became the founda-

tion of Chinese culture.

and Dogen, the founder of

brought back Zen to Japan. Zen also

became the foundation of Japanese

ZEN AND NEMBUTSU

Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose

culture during the Kamakura period.

(continued on page three)