Liberating Zen: A Christian Experience

Abstract

This article argues that Buddhist-Christian dialogue in Korea needs to be socially responsible and engaging because the religious neighbors and suffering neighbors in the country are inseparable. Also, it challenges an assumption that Buddhism in general and Zen in particular are by nature socially disengaging. Korean Zen, like any other religious tradition, has both promises and problems in regard to its response to the reality of social suffering. On the one hand, with its emphases on engaged mindfulness , non-attachment , and bodhisattva compassion , Zen may encourage Buddhists (and non-Buddhists) to transform the self and society. On the other hand, Zen shows its limitations, such as enlightenment essentialism and ethical non-differentiation , which discourage Buddhists from engaging in social action. Thus, this article examines both what is liberating and what needs to be liberated in Korean Zen from the viewpoint of a Christian who practices Zen.