For some reason I have always associated Zen monasteries with Japan. I've never been there, but judging from shows/movies, the cities there (esp Tokyo) seem pretty noisy, and overstimulating in general. On the other hand, Scandinavia seems very calm and serene (exception - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Anyone who's visited/lived in any of these places, is this an accurate portrayal?
Cities in Scandinavia aren't silent, but at least for me, I register a kind of silence that's somehow in the background. Especially with northerners. As you go south in Sweden, the backdrop of glacier-like serenity fades away and you start to feel the presence of a more European bustle.
Zen is originally from ancient China, where I imagine there was quite a bit of silence. That's not to say the essence of Zen has anything to do with either silence or noise, but I think Zen culture was kind of steeped in rural silence.
Comments
For some reason I have always associated Zen monasteries with Japan. I've never been there, but judging from shows/movies, the cities there (esp Tokyo) seem pretty noisy, and overstimulating in general. On the other hand, Scandinavia seems very calm and serene (exception - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Anyone who's visited/lived in any of these places, is this an accurate portrayal?
Cities in Scandinavia aren't silent, but at least for me, I register a kind of silence that's somehow in the background. Especially with northerners. As you go south in Sweden, the backdrop of glacier-like serenity fades away and you start to feel the presence of a more European bustle.
Zen is originally from ancient China, where I imagine there was quite a bit of silence. That's not to say the essence of Zen has anything to do with either silence or noise, but I think Zen culture was kind of steeped in rural silence.