Everything Is Dharma
Disclaimer: I absolutely do not claim the role of a teacher or a Buddhist instructor. If you are interested in Dharma, please contact a qualified Teacher or Center.
“Never engage in practice for some purpose, to achieve something, or to satisfy any of your desires. Never engage in practice to improve your fate. Never engage in practice in the hope of gaining miraculous powers. Engage in practice for its own sake.” — Dogen, a 13th-century master who introduced Soto Zen teachings to Japan.
Because all those images that made your mouth water were a manipulation to draw you into a sect! Seriously though, there is actually no such thing as a “sect” in Buddhism.
It’s not a problem for a follower, like me, of Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), to receive and apply teachings from a Zen master, representing the Chinese-Japanese school, which in many ways stands in contrast to Vajrayana. Buddhism is a bit like cooking. The result matters. It should be tasty and healthy. Everything else is a tool you use when it brings results. Heck! As a Buddhist, I have no issue turning to Christian teachings. To this day, I consider “The Cloud of Unknowing” by an English anonymous author as the most important spiritual…