Zen's object of worship cannot be named and determined as…
““Zen's object of worship cannot be named and determined as God, or Brahman, or Amitabha, or Creator, or Nature, or Reality, or Substance, or the like. Neither Chinese nor Japanese masters of Zen tried to give a definite name to their object of adoration. They now called Him That One, now This One, now Mind, now Buddha, now Tathagata, now Certain Thing, now the True, now Dharma-nature, now Buddha-nature, and so forth.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Zen avoids fixed labels for the ultimate reality, using many names to point beyond conceptual thought.
In simple terms: Zen uses many names to avoid fixing reality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace fluidity in spiritual concepts.
Themes
spirituality
Zen
language
conceptual limits
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation practice
- religious study
- personal growth
Key Concepts
non-duality
emptiness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to worship without naming?
- How does language limit spiritual experience?
A Different Perspective
The many names may still create conceptual attachment.