Does Zen Shin Buddhism mainly focus on the sutras/teachings of the Buddha? Why or why not?
First, Zen Shin Buddhism does not exist as a school or sect of Buddhism. We used to call it Zen Shin Sangha (Sangha is the group). So, it is intended to be a group who participate in Zen Shin meditation.
Zen Shin is a unique form in that it takes aspects of Zen Buddhism and Shin Buddhism to make it more comfortable for today. There is not much emphasis on the difficult study of Sutras nor an academic approach to the teachings. Rather, it is more like making the Teachings apply to each person.
If one decides to incorporate Buddhism into his or her daily life or to become a Buddhist, does that mean he or she can only be practitioners of Buddhism? Or can they practice other religions? This is an interesting question that only a Westerner would ask. To the Eastern mind and for a Buddhist, there is not a concept of “exclusivity” (i.e., there is not the idea that I am Catholic and thus not a Methodist, etc.) nor a feeling of “I am right, and you are wrong.”
To a Buddhist, one chooses his or her own “right” path, which means labels become meaningless.
(From the Westerner’s approach, one could start the Path of Buddhism without renouncing their past religion. For example, one could be part of two or more churches/temples. Over time, one would naturally gravitate to one school or sect as the Teachings became relevant. It should be a natural and organic move toward the Teachings that resonate, and other teachings/religions will just fall away.)
What does the Buddha teach?
Of course, to respond to this question would take a 100 years. In short, the Buddha, in his last talk, said something along the lines of: “Be a lamp unto yourself and always seek questions.”
To discover Enlightenment (to become a Buddha) means to make peace with yourself and to understand the world as it really is. There are limitless and different ways to explain this because each of us are different, and we have different abilities and talents. In practical terms, the Buddha taught: Wisdom and Compassion.
From a logical point of view, to find and discover Wisdom is so impossible, to find and discover Compassion is so impossible. To do the impossible, we have to discard logic, and there can only be a spiritual answer and, thus, we begin our Path with Buddhism.
Gassho (with palms together), Rev. Ron