this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2024
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askchapo

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41
Am I too sensitive for finding it beyond cringe when crackers throw around the term "zen-like"? (hexbear.net)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by Umechan@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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I saw some people on Reddit discussing whether someone was being orientalist, and I agreed they were simply by using the phrase "zen-like concentration". I'm not offended by them using this term, I just find it stupid. "Zen-like" has absolutely no meaning, but gives an air of eastern spirituality and mysticism. I personally think you should only be able to use that phrase if you can give a detailed and verifiable explanation about the differences between zen-like concentration, huayan-like concentration, mahasthabir nikaya-like concentration, and chan-like concentration, as well as recognize that the last one is exactly the same as zen.

And why is it only ever "zen-like"? I'm sure everyone would find it strange if Asians suddenly started to use the terms "seventh day adventism-like" or "independent fundamentalist baptist-like" to refer to the elements of American culture they find exotic.

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[โ€“] Umechan@hexbear.net 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Be mindful of it's origin, and consider if it actually has any meaning in the context you're using it in.

[โ€“] Saeculum@hexbear.net 2 points 5 months ago

Words have meaning only insofar as the people you are communicating with understand them. No one is going to be confused by what you mean by zen, even if the meaning they interpret is far away from the cultural origins of the word.