Zenshō Socialism

Zen Socialism is a political ideology that originated in Indrala in the 29th century, that combines principles of Buddhism, Marxism, and Gao-Showa Nationalism. Zen Socialists have called for state provision of the Buddhist requisites of food, shelter, clothing and medicine, for the abolition or amelioration of class distinctions, for campaigns for morality based on Buddhist traditions, for workers and peasants to overcome the love of property, and for military struggle against what they perceive as Western Imperialism. Politically, the Zen Socialist ideal is a state of monks, peasants and workers, under a centralized and communal state structure.

Origins
Although Zen Socialism as such is a fairly new political movement, it has its roots in the 23rd century leftist movement of Kaoism, also known as socialism with Buddhist characteristics. It differs from that ideology in respect to the position on military. Kaoism is a pacifistic and non-violent ideology, while Zen Socialism is very militaristic.

Indrala
The first political manifestation of Zen Socialism was in Indrala, at the begining of the 29th century. At that time, because of the influence of Hulstria over Indralan politics, and because of the rise of Gao-Showa nationalism throughout Dovani, anti-Western sentiment was very strong. Because of the religious dualism of Indrala, split between Qamido and Buddhism, the adherents of the former became largely affiliated with the local Liberal regime. In reaction, the writings of several Buddhist leaders led to the development of the new Zen Socialist ideology, in opposition to Indralan liberalism, its membership in the Seleyan Union, and close ties with Hulstria.

The first Zen Socialist party, the Indralan Gekokujō, managed to gain political power by the means of the world's first Zen Revolution, which overthrew President Hortál and established the Enlightened People's Republic of Indrala. Later Zen Socialist movements would take Gekokujō Indrala as their primary source of inspiration.

The militarism and nationalism of Zen Socialist Indrala were the main causes of the Hanzen Conflict, where the Indralan military forcefully annexed the independent state of Hanzen. This conflict created strong tensions with the main colonial powers in Dovani, as they saw Indrala's actions and rhetoric as a threat to their colonial possessions.

Hulstria
After the fall of the Gekokujō regime, Zen Socialism became associated with Gao-Showa nationalist movements in Gao-Soto. These movements did not have a single ideological orientation, however, and Zen Socialism was just one of the ideological positions adopted by Gao-Showa nationalists in Hulstria.

Sekowo
At the start of the next century Zen Socialism became a movement strongly associated with Gao-Showa nationalism in Sekowo. Due to a number of factors, such as the loss of Sekowo's colonies, the corruption and instability of the Second Commonwealth of Sekowo, the perceived inability of the Commonwealth to deal with national issues, and the demographic increase of the number of Gao-Showa nationals in Sekowo, Gao-Showan radical nationalism became an important political force. This eventually led to the creation of the Second Sekowan Empire. Zen Socialism, although not the official ideology of the Empire, was an important movement in its politics, as illustrated by the Sekowan Taisei Gekokujō.

Drania
At the same time, the two attempts to have Drania join the Second Sekowan Empire were done by Zen Socialist parties, the Gao-Syowa Minjogjuui and the Gao-Syowa Jegug-ui Hyeogmyeong Jeonseon. The latter temporarily succeeded in doing so, during the Dranian Zen Revolution, and the Holy Kingdom of Deulatoji (later the Enlightened People's Republic of Deulatoji) was the second Zen Socialist state in history. For this reason, even after the destruction of the Second Sekowan Empire, Drania remains a Zen Socialist state.

Beliefs
"For Zen Socialists any being is a potential Buddha, and has the duty to strive to achieve enlightenment. Attachment to impermanent things hinders one's path towards enlightenment, and thus the illusion of individuality, the desire to accumulate riches and capital, and private property, are all obstacles in the path to Buddhahood. The founding principle of our beliefs is Gekokujō (Hageugsang), the many against the few. The ideology of our movement is Ikkō-Zen Nashonarusuto Shakaishugi Ryouken, or Single Minded Zen Nationalist Socialism Thought. In laymen terms, Zen Socialism or Ikkō Nationalism.

Zen Socialism also draws some ideas from the Gaijin theory of Marxism. Of all the Gaijin economic theories, the economic system of Marxism is founded on moral principles, while capitalism is concerned only with gain and profitability. Zen Socialism can rightly thought of as half-Marxist, half-Buddhist.

Our principles are the following:

1. We declare our faith in the teachings of the Buddha, that all individual life is transient and all things connected to the whole.

2. We declare all property illusionary, we declare any one who holds capitalist possessions dear to himself and seeks happiness by accumulating them inherently unenlightened.

3. We declare that in the days before contact with the Gaijin Imperialists, the Gao-Showa People were free from such illusions. We hold all the Gaijin Imperialist nations responsible for spiritual darkness of the People, especially the hairy Hulstrians.

4. We declare our aim to liberate the Gao-Showa People by means of a mass enlightenment.

5. We express solidarity with all anti-Imperialist struggles around the globe, especially those fought by Gao-Showa Peoples against Gaijin.

6. We believe that the best way to liberate the people from the illusion of individuality is war. Patriotism awakens the people to their smallness, and inspires slavish loyalty to policies they would reject in peacetime."

Zen Socialist Parties and Organizations
Taisei Gekokujō

Gao-Syowa Jegug-ui Hyeogmyeong Jeonseon

International Zen Socialist Party