Question
- The Buddha advocated nonviolence, respect for life, and not killing. Yet Japanese warriors practiced Zen Buddhism and were often merciless toward others and themselves, even going as far as suicide. How can this be reconciled?
- There is one Buddha, one teaching, yet the Zen described on your beautiful site seems far removed from what we see and what is taught, for example, in Tibetan, Indian, Cambodian, or Vietnamese Buddhism.
Thank you, and see you soon.
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
We must distinguish two things: one is religion, the other is transmission from master to disciple.
Christ preached love, and how many innocent people has Christianity massacred?
There is the same difference between Japanese Zen and me. Some people want to follow the Soto Shu religion, but they do not want to see me.
Kosen