Harmonization of Zen

As music is a harmonization of instruments and notes, Zen is realized through the harmonization of culture, religion, and people. For without, the mind would not be able to know that Zen moment, that harmonization that permeates every aspect of life. Zen is most sympathetic with the teachings of the Buddhas that is grounded in natural law and presents a view of spiritual transcendence through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. These two core teachings of Buddhism becomes the religion, that narrow path through the treacherous valley of pitfalls and dangers, to the other side known as nirvana, a place where suffering is abated and rebirth in the suffering existence is ended. Another sympathetic path is Stoicism, with the practices of logic, wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. Those that combine both Zen and Stoicism are known as Zen-Stoa, and many Western Zen teachers, knowingly or unknowingly, have taken this path as a lifestyle because it is more fitting for the culture, the prevailing religious thoughts, and the people. There are those who point out that the similarities of Chan teachings, Chinese Zen, and Stoicism are similar, and likely that Stoic virtues and teachings traveled along the Chinese Silk Road into China around the latter part of the 5th century. This is likely true, given that other Western-originated religions, such as Menegeism, travel the Silk Road reaching deep into China. Modern Zen teachers, such as the late Peggy Hanjiyu, kenned of Shasta Abbey, brought in a reformed Japanese Zen teaching that incorporated much of the Stoic values, beliefs, and demeanor. She also infused the practices of Western-style cultural religion, introducing a Gregorian chanting style, Western-style clergy attire, simpler and more direct translations, and a Stoic practice of mind training for her disciples. In this, Zen can blend into the culture, the religions, and the people. Our Western curlicue is founded upon Hellenistic fundamentals, where much of our laws, governmental processes, and even the tenets of our religions all have roots in Hellenism, though I do not deny that Near East religions such as Sufism and Christian reformers such as Meister Eckhart and Thomas Merton have a Zen harmonization about them. It is not the scope of this book to explore those, rather to present the most expedient and accessible path for a Western Zen disciple to consider.