Expert: Stuart Resnick - 12/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: I want to become a buddhist, but i do not know which type to go for.  i have heard of zen buddhists and i would like to know what they do and what they practice.
thankyou
sara

ANSWER: What Zen Buddhists do is look directly at just-now experience. At this moment, what do you see, what do you hear, what are you doing? That's called "Zen." There are formal practices, like sitting, chanting, and asking "What am I?" that can be used as tools to practice awareness and attentiveness to each moment.

Re the various types of Buddhism... other schools tend to focus on the words that the Buddha spoke. In Zen, on the other hand, Buddha's words aren't so important. In Zen, we only care about Buddha's mind... which is the same as our own original, clear, before-thinking mind. So we examine our own thinking, and our own behavior, moment-to-moment. We don't care so much about what Buddha found... we want to see what we can find for ourselves.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your responce.  Also do Zen Buddhists use Malla and what is a Zen buddhist meal time pray.

Sara

Answer
Use anything and everything, if it helps you keep a clear and compassionate mind. If you find using a malla helps clear through the thinking so you can be more aware and attentive of what's right in front of you, then use it, why not? Use WHATEVER helps keep you awake to this moment.

Re meal time, same thing. If you're hungry, eat. If someone else is hungry, give them food. If you want to pray for something, sure, why not? But be aware and attentive... why exactly do you want to pray for something?