I had an interesting experience in Japan. Meggie, my wife, asked me if I consider myself a Buddhist. Before I had a chance to think, the answer, “No” came to me. That surprised me slightly. I thought very briefly and said, “I practice Zen Buddhism.” And then I smiled.

 

Reaction from my teacher:
Dear one,
Debbie calls herself a Debbi-ist.  I call myself a Hindu, Christian, Moslem, Jew, Pagan, Sufi, etc who happens to practice Buddhism.  You are a Buddhist who follows in the way of Zen. Or maybe you are a Scott-ist who practices Zen.  I’ll look it up in the rule book and let you know!
in metta,
K