To continue from my past article “Is Buddhism Satanic?” I would now like to write about and warn Christians of the practice of Zen Buddhism.
In the West, Zen Buddhism wasn’t popular until the mid 1950’s.
The main discipline is called “zazen”, and it literally means “to sit in meditation”. In this state of meditation the practitioner looks to remove the “self” and thus becoming one with the “conscious universe”. Chanting and getting into a trance-like state with breathing techniques and body positions are utilized to “release the mind” from thought and with this attain complete emptiness. The purpose of all this is to reach what they coin “enlightenment”. This so-called enlightenment is the key to removing a zenist’s identity and reaching the doorway to Nirvana. I want to make a strong statement and warning at this point; the practice of centering meditation/prayers, altered states of consciousness etc. can open you up to demonic oppression! Read Ephesians 6: 10-13:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
The complete enlightenment happens after a series of “koans” (a riddle) in chant form they achieve an altered reality, that is, the universe becomes an interdependent whole, and each person is that whole. Are you with me so far?
Strangely the zenist wants to remove the self and become one with the conscious universe achieving a state of absolute emptiness. Back again to Ephesians 6: 10-13! Re-read if necessary.
What is a Christian to make of all this? Well to begin with it is not Biblical as the “self” is not the focal point of the Christian Faith; our focus is on the Creator of the universe. We live to Glorify Him and not the self-departing on a wild ride of altered states! Our renewing comes from the filling of The Holy Spirit, which ultimately changes the game drastically and renews the heart, mind and soul through regeneration. We know that the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He died on the cross, taking away the sins of the believers, arose after three days from the tomb, walked among believers and unbelievers for forty days and then ascended to Heaven in Body with the scars of the crucifixion to be at the right hand of his Father.
This practice of Zen Buddhism is not of our Lord and Savior. I implore you to pray for the followers of Zen Buddhism and Buddhism in general as it is idolatrous and opens up the follower to the demonic realm.
Acts 4: 30-31:
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
God Bless
Brian Mason
Beacon Apologetics 