Is Zen a Religion?

Zen is a practice of spiritual deepening available to anyone of any religion. Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, and atheists have all found their religious experience and awareness expanded through Zen. You don’t have to change your religion in order to take up Zen practice and gain the insights of 1500 years of Zen masters.

Some Zen practitioners adopt Zen as their religion, finding in Zen a complete religion of practice, teachings, experience, and community. Others, however, maintain their Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or other faith while finding that Zen practice facilitates openness to a fuller experience of God.

At Dancing Crane Zen Center, Zen is taught as nonsectarian. Zen is a wonderful practice of wisdom, compassion, living in the present moment, and realizing your true self. This practice is available to people of any (or no) religion.