Accessible Zen

>>1527640
I appreciate what Watts did for Zen in the west, but his writings seem part of a counter-orientalist movement on the part of Japan. Zen can not be severed from its historical, doctrinal, and cultural context without being mangled into a completely different religious philosophy (see: the other Zen thread up right now). I agree that his writings are accessible for westerners, but keep in mind they're introductory.

>>1527640
>It's a "dumbing down foreign religions for exoticist Westerners who don't really want to challenge their worldview" episode

De wettering

>>1527672
can you offer material to graduate to or will you continue to be grandiose?

>>1527672
So? That's exactly what the Chinese are doing with Christianity.

Religions change when they encounter new groups. Just look at Christianity, or Islam. The Christianity of Spain is different from that of Russia, and the Islam of Morocco is different from that of Indonesia.

>>1527698
It's called indigenization of religion. It's interesting you bring up China, considering Christianity has been there since the 7th century.