Hi All,
<quote><b>with an apparent insistence that you be a practising Zen Buddhist</b></quote>
I think the key thing here is "apparent" - for the beginners who finds themselves standing up reciting a creed based on basic Buddhist ideals it would certainly 'appear' to be insistent.
With regard to the wider issue raised by Tony; my approach is - should anyone show concern at the methodology, concentrate on the aims and objectives of the philosophy. As has been proven countless times around the world it is possible, indeed even beneficial, to have people with sincere religious beliefs counted among the SK membership. It adds diversity and provides a wider perspective on how those very basic ideals find a practical place in society. It also proves that SK is not about being a Zen Buddhist, but being a self reliant, productive, considerate, co-operative member of society. I cannot think of a single world religion with which these ideals would cause conflict.
One area, which may be cause for concern in some areas, is the essential 'godless' nature of SK philosophy. Again this does not presuppose that practitioners deny the existence of a 'higher being/power' but instead accept that primary responsibility for influence on their own circumstances (and those of society as a whole) lies with themselves and not at the whim of an invisible being ready to mete out punishment or reward according to their actions.
Though I have no personal experience, I have heard that some interpret the theory of dharma as a claim to the non-existence of such a 'being/power'. For my part, I would suggest that anyone with such concerns considers dharma as that which comes from said entity and not that which replaces it.
Later,
George Hyde
UCL, ULU, SOAS Dojo
British Shorinji Kempo Federation