Expert: Joe McSorley - 2/24/2009

Question
How does a Chan or Zen Buddhist meditation group compare and contrast
with the typical American Christian congregation? If that is too lengthy of a
topic could you suggest some reading resources that could address the
question?

I left christianity decades ago, and would describe my religious beliefs as
primarily Taoist and Chan Buddhist. Yet I'm reluctant to join a sangha as I do
not wish a repeat of my past very unpleasant experiences in a variety of
christian congregations ranging from evangelical fundementalism to
catholicism and nearly everything in between.

I'm fairly well educated when it comes to Taoism and Buddhism so I'm not
afraid of a level of difficulty in your reading recommendations.

Thank you for your time and opinion

Answer
Dear Baihu,
  Thanks for your question.  First of all, people are people no matter where you go.  There are paradigms for personalities that occur everywhere and in every context.  Someone who is a fundamentalist Christian in the West if born in the Middle East would be a fundamentalist Muslim.  I’ve noticed in my years of martial arts that those who come from strict religious backgrounds seek masters who are strict and austere while those who come from more mellow backgrounds look for a master who is more open and kind.  We all see what our personality dictates and find that group that appeals to us.  So there are sanghas that are easy going and those that are strict.  One thing that should differentiate a Buddhist community from a Christian one is that there is no dogma or doctrine to preach and no judgment that is handed down as a result of a canon or creed.  You have Christian communities that are open and accepting and those that are very narrow minded and condemning each justifying their actions by their dogma.
  In a Buddhist center you are there for your own awakening and practice with the help of a roshi.  For the most part you keep to yourself and silent during the different practices of sanzen and zazen so there is not an interaction like you would have in a church.  If the roshi gives a lecture there should be give and take in the discussion though in recent years I see them shy away from the discussion part of this at some Zendos.  
   Why do you feel the need for a sangha?  If it is to be around like driven people I can understand it but again, people are people.  There are people who like athletics and then there are professional athletes and the difference between their intensity and commitment are vastly different.  Many people use a sangha as a replacement for church.  The head abbot of a well-known monastery said that to me 20 years ago, he said,  “ most of my congregation are just here for community and they don’t want to go to a Christian church, few of them are here for Zen.”
  I don’t know of books on the sangha and its relationship to Christian congregations.  If you want books on Zen I would recommend “Zen and Western Thought” by Masao Abe, “Zen Essays Series Two” by D.T. Suzuki (it’s out of print but I’ve found in on the web cheap), “What is Zen” by D.T. Suzuki and anything by Shin Ichi Hisamatsu.  If you can find a copy of “Zen and the Human Situation” by Dr. Richard DeMartino, I think it’s a masterpiece.
  I hope this has helped you. Take care,
          Joe