You don't think Buddhist principles are so grounded in truth that they'd be applicable whenever?

They are, that's why I practice, and that's why it works for me. But many buddhist texts would say that shedding a lot of things is vital to attaining enlightenment. Buddha was a skeleton by the time he reached enlightenment. He wasn't working, talking to people, having any stress in his life, eating, or commuting in snow and traffic to a stressful job. I don't think these things make enlightenment impossible, I just think they are in a small confliction with certain aspects of buddhism. There's a reason monks give up everything in life to live in a monastary and do nothing but sit all day meditating. That's the austerity of buddhism. Why do you think that is? Because that's what a lot of texts and scriptures would suggest is needed to attain enlightenment, to devote your entire life to it. I believe zen practice and buddhism have a huge place in modern times, perhaps more than ever, for calming us and destressing our lives, I was only saying that dedicating a life and finding enlightenment itself probably becomes more difficult. I'm not saying impossible, I'm just saying it's "different" and perhaps more challenging.

Why not view it from the opposite perspective? (no condescension intended) Why not view playing guitar, the name Ryan, being married, etc. as all being equally special? Or not not special? I haven't thought much about it but I'd like to think that that'd cultivate a more positive outlook.

Those are indeed very special things, and things to be proud of. The point wasn't that those things are bad, the point was that when you try to EXPLAIN those things and label or verbalise them, that it is not being communicated properly and they lose their value and meaning in a Zen sense. It makes sense to BE them, it doesn't make sense to label them. They are much more beautiful just being. Like the waterfall example. Watts, and other masters, would say that the "Who are you?" question would be better answered by smiling or dancing, and saying nothing at all.

Have you even considered you might be a Zen master?

No. Being in a position of being a teacher is something that has never appealed to me, as I much prefer being the student and learning, and am no where near having learned everything. Not by a mile. I drink to much, and have trouble myself keeping my calm at times, and would need much more austerity in my life than I already practice which isn't much. I like caffeine, I like drinking, I enjoy other substances from time to time, and I have a lot to learn myself. While I appreciate the thought, it's not something I would ever consider at this point in my life. I have too much to learn. I do live my life to most of the principles of buddhism, but again I stray. I drink, I like caffeine, I do own material things like a house and a car, etc. There is no way I could be a pure buddhist monk, not even close. And that kind of goes back to the modern life thing that I was being confusing with earlier. I simply don't lead anything near the life of a monk. I've adopted meditation practice, constant mindfulness and thought exercise, and removed some vanity from my life where I can, but I simply can't adopt the straight buddhist lifestyle that a lot of zen masters or scriptures would say is needed to become a monk or fully enlightened. I do thing rationally and calmly even in situations where others would fret, and I fall back on the very calming principle of "it is what it is". I willingly leave too many distractions in my life, for example I'm typing out a comment on one of them right now. :)

To me, I'm doing everything I can within reason and context of my life that I was already living before I found buddhism. But I'd be lying if I said I want to give it all up, become a monk, and devote my entire life to enlightenment. Consider me your average western picking and choosing the pieces that work for him, but recognizing yet ignoring the aspects that simply wouldn't work for me. It's kind of my own personal balance.

I'm not saying I won't find enlightenment in my life, was only trying to express that I feel it can be a little more difficult for us in modern times, that's all.