Expert: Joe McSorley - 12/21/2004

Question
hello i am curently writing a piece of coursework on the dala lama , i was wondering if you could tell me if followers of the zen buddhism follow the dala lama , and if they do no why not? any help would be greatly appriciated

Answer
Hi Elena,
 No, Zen Buddhists do not follow the Dalai Lama or anyone else for that matter.  It is the essence of Buddhism to obtain the identical awakening of the historical Buddha, not to imitate him or follow him but to equal his realization of self as an expression of the Universe. No one's enlightenment is greater than any other's so the figure head of a Lama or Rimpoche means nothing in Zen.
Zen is the religion of self-awakening as taught by the historical buddha and does not have the ritual or traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.  What is most important in Zen is that we awaken now to true reality and not the trappings of any belief.
 I hope this has helped you.  Take care,
       Joe