How is Zen Buddhism different from ordinary Buddhism?
I don’t know what you mean by “ordinary” Buddhism because, like Christianity and many other religions, Buddhism has several different sects. But one thing that differentiates Zen from other sects is that in some sects like Shin Buddhism (the most widely practiced in Japan) there’s a transcendental, metaphysical Buddha who people call upon and rely upon to bestow release from rebirth, a little similar to the way Christians refer to a metaphysical Jesus to bestow redemption. Zen differs because it’s a form of self help which neither begs nor expects help from any deity or Buddha. to quote mythologist Joseph Campbell, “Zen is a form of religion (if one may call it such) with no dependence on God or gods, no idea of an ultimate deity, and no need even for the Buddha – in fact no supernatural references at all.
