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1. Unlike Early Buddhism, or schools that are based on the Pali Canon, Zen Buddhism does not make a distinction between samsara and nirvana; this is an approach that is also adhered to by other schools of Mahayana Buddhism (Nagatomo, 2006). As indicated by Kasulis (1998), “Zen Master Dōgen believed there is a fundamental flaw in the usual interpretation of Buddhist practice as the means to enlightenment . . . Dōgen maintained everyone is already enlightened, but that enlightenment was not being manifested or expressed in their actions. The goal, therefore, is to authenticate what we already are” (Kasulis, 1998, “5. Medieval philosophical anthropology: Zen Buddhism,” para. 1).

2. Whereas other Buddhist schools emphasize the study of the Buddhist scriptures, Zen Buddhism advocates an approach that exists, as it were, "outside of the scriptures" (Kasulis, 1998). Thus, progress toward enlightenment does not require the use of scriptures, it does not rely on any text, it is a direct path to self-examination and buddhahood.

3. Most Buddhist traditions include the principle of suññatā or emptiness in their teachings in one way or another, but their interpretation of this concept can vary significantly. For the Theravāda tradition, suññatā mainly relates to one of the key principles of the Buddha’s teaching, namely, anattā or non-self, and it is also associated with the experience of nibbana (Vélez De Cea, 2005).

4. The Mahāyāna tradition, to which Zen Buddhism belongs, adopts the view that selves are empty and also asserts the emptiness of objects, that is, it claims that all objects lacks an essence. ). Zen Buddhism followed in the footsteps of earlier Mahāyāna schools and advocated at least two forms of suññatā (the emptiness of persons and the emptiness of objects). Various Mahāyāna scriptures that address emptiness such as the Diamond Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, and the Heart Sutra are included among its canonical texts (Everyday Zen Foundation, n.d.).

References

Everyday Zen Foundation. (n.d.). 6. Mahayana sutras. https://everydayzen.org/study-guide/mahayana-sutras/

Nagatomo, S. (2006). Japanese Zen Buddhist philosophy. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/japanese-zen/

Kasulis, T. (1998). Medieval philosophical anthropology: Zen Buddhism. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Taylor and Francis. 10.4324/9780415249126-G100-1

Vélez De Cea, A. (2005). Emptiness in the Pāli Suttas and the question of Nāgārjuna’s orthodoxy. (2005). Philosophy East and West, 55(4), 507–528.