I’m not 100% sure, but the person I had a lengthy discussion with, I think is a Zen Buddhist. He does describe it as a philosophy, a way of life, but he does acknowledge karma as a real phenomenon for poor choices that we make.
He definitely definitely definitely doesn’t believe in the Christian God, Jesus as the Son, nor the Holy Spirit. He has made that very clear.
Mind you, he is an extremely nice person from another country where Buddhism is practiced by many. He is happy to be an American citizen, and sometimes I like to pick his brain on things. I like to think we respect each other and even our faith differences. We are kind but straightforward with each other. Maybe we are just exploring what the other thinks.
When the conversation begins to be too “heavy” we switch topics and stay in more safe issues, like how was the weather on your recent trip? Can you believe the price of groceries these days?
I’m just telling you of my experience with someone who professes to be a Buddhist.
“ Zen Buddhists do not believe in reincarnation, worship of deities or karma.”
Mahayana samsara. Of course they do.
“Zen is, if pigeonholed, more concerned with meditation and mindfulness than anything else.”
To what purpose?