How was Pure Land Buddhism similar to Zen Buddhism?
Answers
Zen Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism. At one time there were various numerous separate Mahayana schools in China, but over time, through attrition and for other reasons, political and also patronage of the Emperor, what has basically remained today in China is Zen Buddhism which incorporates Pure Land Buddhism within it for the practitioners who are illiterate or less learned or those who cannot acquire any skill introspective insight meditation to practise Zazen or Kōan.
It is therfore not unexpected that 95% of the practitioners at a Zen temple either just attend to just ritualistic devotion like lighting candles of joss-sticks, or if they are a bit more involved, attend chanting sessions of the two Amitabha Sutras or the Heart Sutra, or simply recite ‘Namo Amitofu’ all day and night when awake, like a ‘broken record’ in the background of the mind, when you are eating, walking, standing, sitting, working etc.
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