I wish to study Zen Buddhism, where should I start?
I understand it’s based on meditation, and seeking enlightenment within yourself, nor do you have to believe in Buddha to start out, which is good because I need direct evidence to believe things. I currently understand that you can only know what your perceptions are, but not if they’re correct. So since only knowledge of what my perceptions are is absolute truth, a religion based on seeking truth in yourself makes sense to me.
Three pounds of flax.
What is the sound of one GQ thread started in GD?
GQ= General Questions. GD= Great Debates.
Since Buddhists rarely proselytize, I don’t expect to see any witnessing in this thread, so I think it might survive as an objective question in GQ. (There is the possibility that sufficient personal reminiscences, there, might result in a later move to IMHO, but as aksed, it seems lie a General Question to me.
IANA Buddhist, but I’ve gained some enlightenment from studying koans. Just google “zen koans” and you’ll be hearing the sound of one hand clapping (although it’s no substitute for a dopeslap from an actual monk).
I am not a Zen Buddhist practitioner (adhere to Tibetan practice, more to my mindset), but have read Zen; it was my first introduction to Buddhist thought.
One internet resource is Zenguide.
I started out by reading a lot, and that helps to understand the basic Buddhist tenets, but, if you want to really learn meditation, it is important to find a teacher and group to learn the practice, especially for a Western mind. At first, it seems really glamourous and exotic, and an experienced teacher can help you cut through that cultural fog. Buddhism is all about taking personal responsibility for one’s perceptions, and honing one’s mind and emotional states.( I’m not particularly accomplished at that, but Buddhist teachings have , over the years, helped me to develop some better qualities)
An important note when starting out; meditation is not “navel-gazing”. There are a multiplicity of different practices, geared toward different mindsets. Basically, though, it’s learning a method of calming the yammer of mind, and then trying to understand how your mind works, and honing it to being able to to discern your mental patterns and improve upon them precisely, in the moment.
An immense task, but that’s why it’s called practice.
Cool thanks for the information. I’ll see if I can find some local teachers.
The vast majority of Buddhism in the West is directed towards the practice of meditation. elelle advice is sound. As a preliminary, I would suggest a trip to your local bookstore. Any books from the religion section regarding Buddhism will be directed towards a Western audience. If, after your readings, you are still interested a trip to a local university’s religion department would direct you towards a local Buddhist or meditation group (many Western groups don’t ascribe to any particular Buddhist tradition). From there, if the religion agrees with you…
I can understand it in principle, but I’ve never understood why. What good is satori? I’ve listened to dozens of lectures by Alan Watts on the radio, I’ve read Zen for Beginners and Zen Comics, and I’ve never gotten a clear picture of what enlightenment is good for – why one is better off with it than without it. In some versions of Buddhism the point is to escape the cycle of reincarnation, but I don’t think the Zen version has anything to do with that.
Why? That’s like asking why a runner goes from the starting line to the finish line. Is the runner better off standing at the finish line?
Some will claim it to be a journey of self-improvement. But my rationale is different – I’m going after the world record in speed enlightenment. 
This was a recently Digged article on Zen that I thought was great
Start with this book: Buddhism Without Beliefs.
When you understand why enlightenment is good, without it being good for anything, you have achieved enlightenment.
(How did that sound? )
Ah, Grasshopper, you have much to learn. 
If you think you have achieved enlightenment, then you haven’t.
I believe it does. It’s the whole “escape the cycle of rebirth/gain compassion for mankind/help to redeem the universe” thing you find in all Mahayana Buddhism.
But, do Zen Buddhists even believe in reincarnation of the individual soul? Do they even believe in the existence of the individual soul? Alan Watts’ lectures strongly imply the contrary.