T he urgent necessity in information technology society of today in which the primal interests of people incline to economical success, science and amusement, is to propel the real religion that proves Tao by awakening one's real nature and clarifies the true meaning of human life.
The status of present day religion itself also does not respond to this mission. For example, the monks in Japan generally perform only funeral ceremonies and memorial services for the dead. And in various places in the world the antagonism in the faith in God is bringing about miserable tragedies of war.
As compared with this, Zen does not adopt any particular faith in certain God or Buddha and does not set up any special doctrines and awakens the real self by taking away the delusion of the mind. Through Zen practice students proves really that, when they are awakened, it is their own mind that is Buddha.
Still more Zen rejects the existence of the soul separated from the body and the world after death as the superstition on the one side. On the other side Zen negates the materialism, which negates of the intrinsic Buddha nature.
The pivot Zen is "seeing into one's own real nature" which Bodhidharma had proved. This does not imply that Zen excludes the instinctive desires and passion, which are usually considered to be the source of evil, but rather diverts them to the wisdom and virtuous characteristics of the Tathagata by proving them to be intrinsically Sunya through cutting off the bonds of delusion.
Therefore Zen is a religion that no factors inconsistent with the principles of science at all. Zen has no gate and is open to all who seek to awaken the real self. A religion of such free and rational features cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
I n Zen, there are Masters who are in charge of judging the students, whether their "seeing into their own real nature" is right or wrong, whether their level of attainment is deep or shallow. The Master are certificated to possess "Dharma-Seal," which has been handed down from Shakamuni Buddha through successive generations of Patriarchs to the present.
Moreover the "Koans" in Zen are material for investigating the Dharma and should be the criteria of attainment through which the degree or depth of the student's realization can be judged. They are today elaborately systematized and have become the preeminent treasure in the world, contributing to prove the real enlightenment and to promote the elevating of personality.
But as a matter of fact, this actual state of affairs has been kept in secret within the Zen temples and was never brought to light publicly to any eyes outside.
Now in this new century where the urgent demand for a real religion is exalted in the spiritual crisis of human beings, it is the time that secrecy should be made open to all.
For these reasons, Ningen Zen Kyodan has broken this old tradition and opened the gate for all seekers who aspire to accomplish Zen practice.
