Originally Posted by
R.D_03
I'm interested in Zen and Shinto, I generally favour Zen but there are no teachers of either where I live. My main concern with religion is clearing the mind and achieving perfection - I believe Zen teaches that well (I have only read limited sources - perhaps fraudulent ones), but is Zen purley meditation? Is there any rituals? What other practice is there in Zen if any?
A good, but difficult to answer question, because it's a much larger question than you may realize. Also, different people have different interpretations/beliefs regarding Zen.
Here's my take:
Zen isn't so much a religion as it is an approach to thought. It is said to have originated in India and been brought to China -- where it is called Cha'an -- by Boddhidarma (Ta Mo in Chinese, Daruma in Japanese). Because the first practitioners were Buddhists it is closely associated with Buddhism, but there can be Christian Zen, Muslim Zen, even athiest Zen.
Zen has no original doctrine or belief system. Those that we think as as Zen doctrines are actual Buddhist (or even Toaist) doctrines.
All sects and forms of Zen that I know of encourage meditation. But there is more. Some sects are "just sitting" while others use mind-stretching riddles called koan.
As far as rituals and other practices, it varies from sect to sect. Also, practices such as the Tea Ceremony, Kyudo, Iaido, Calligraphy, etc. can all be "Zen practice" if approached that way -- from a state of "mindfulness."
As far as reading, try finding copies of the following:
What is Zen by Allan Watts
Zen Mind, Beginer's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Zen Meditation by Dogen
The Practice of Zen Meditation by Father Hugo LaSalle
Zen Way to Enlightenment by the same author
An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by DT Suzuki
Even the not-so-serious
The Everything Zen Book by Jacky Sach & Jessica Faust
I would avoid anything that starts with "Zen and the Art of..." for now.
These are my suggestions; others will have their own, and may not like mine.
HTH.
Yours in Budo,
---Brian---