Zen Mormons?
Monday December 1, 2008
I hesitate to post this, because with the Mormon ads that pop up here from time to time I fear people will think About.com Buddhism is a front for the LDS Church. It isn't, but I guess you'll have to trust me on that. Anyway, some Brigham Young University students are calling themselves "Zen Mormons" after spending two weeks at a Zen retreat in Santa Cruz, California.
They learned about bodhichitta (although I think "charity" is a lame definition for bodhichitta), interdependence ("My salad is the whole world.") and gratitude.There are at least a couple of Zen centers in Santa Cruz, and and article doesn't say which one hosted the Mormons or if the retreat was formal, as a sesshin, or just a two-week residency. Still, it sounds as if the students were favorably impressed.
Comments
I came across the article on another site too. I found it a little funny. People always seem so surprised that they don’t really know what they think they know. At least they were open to learning about Buddhism and giving it a good effort. Though it seemed a touch odd that they were carrying copies of the Book of Mormon with them to hand out, as though they had all along planned on converting the Buddhist. I know that’s overstated, but it did strike me as suspicious on some level. I’m glad they found some positive experiences to take away from the retreat though, and expanded their minds.
Wow. If something that unorthodox got posted on the Mormon Times, perhaps hearts and minds are opening!
Giving out the Book of Mormon? I’ll give these college students the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they were interested in an exchange of ideas, and viewed the books as just such an exchange.
It was an act of generosity. As long as they don’t quiz the recipients later, we can dismiss any ulterior motives.
“Son, where’s that lovely lamp I bought you for Christmas 1992?”
Uh, Mom, I gave that to Goodwill…
‘Charity’ might seem like a lame definition for bodhichitta, but you have to bear in mind that Mormons use the word differently from most people.
When Mormons talk about charity, they don’t mean acts of giving, but rather the attribute of being able to love everyone unconditionally, and put the needs of other people above their own. They talk about it as one of the ultimate steps to becoming like God - having compassion and an earnest desire to help everyone, regardless of who they are.
The Book of Mormon Books they were carrying were not a meant as an act of charity. I happen to know for a fact that Mormons give those books out like some companies give out samples. They want you to be either interested or curious enough that you will call the local temple.
At least they are not like the RCC. They feel you are theirs as soon as conception begins and the indoctrination starts soon after that! On that note, I had personal experience!
My step-father was a Mormon and other than being a little bit pushy on my beliefs he never hurt anyone.
Mormons are basically a decent sort, at least I have never heard of a Mormon wanting to burn my people at a stake.
But I would love to think that some of the Brothers and Sisters of the LDS got their minds expanded with Buddhism, Zen or Wicca.
Brightest Holiday Blessings on you all no matter what your beliefs!