#MAkeITZen

It's funny the assumptions I receive when people hear the word "Zen." The automated responses are "This girl is a Buddhist." "She's not following God." "She's straying from her own religion."

Recently one of my greatest friends told me that he could not use my trademark "MakeITZen" because it's "against [his] religion." Not mentioning your name or the project (cause I know you're probably reading this lol). And we will talk about it on our own but this is a part of the path so I've decided to blog about it.  Anywhooo...

I cannot speak on Buddhism because I haven't studied it as I've studied my own religion. I understand 'Zen' (putting it in quotation marks is driving me nuts) is a part of Buddhism. Zen is a practice of awareness. It is about paying attention to yourself, others, and the connection that we all share with one another taking out the idea of a "separate self" and, honestly, to me, also a practice of empathy - one I'm practicing.  From what I've noticed about all religions is that they all speak of a sense of connectedness, of being one with each other. So I cannot begin to understand Zen being against any religion. Another friend, who practices the same religion as the other, said that Meditating was against their religion. I don't think everyone understands what meditation is used for. Or maybe it's me who do not comprehend the concept and I am under some sort of illusion that this does not go against God. If anything, I find that it would bring us closer to God, the more we meditate. Prayers are meant to be said in a quiet space. If you chant an aphorism or other, can you not find the similarities in what you are saying in both?

By all means my intention is not to stray away from extending compassion towards my friends who cannot or choose not to understand Zen but to acknowledge my own thoughts towards this comment that obviously remained with me. ALSO I am not saying that I am right and they are wrong. This is all matters of opinions.

I will leave this blog though with one of my favorite quotes:
"No one path can lay claim to the truth." ~ Ezra Bayda

All comments are welcomed.