why doesn't everyone just go with zen buddhism?

this may seem like a weird question but a lot of people i know mainly my dad just act like it's the greatest thing ever. "the best people just go with the flow" i hear it all the time, is it something that great that one should aspire to? if not what are some alternative methods?
honestly i shouldn't have said Buddhism what i meant to say is a level of relaxation and not over trying in things "going with the flow" not the religious attachments that come with it

That is a very good question!!!

Why doesn't everyone vote for the same moron for any political office?

Why doesn't everyone drive the same make, model and color car?

Why doesn't everyone live in the same place?

All religions have their drawbacks. The ideal in Buddhism is not to have any attachments, but this part is hogwash, life is nothing without attachments. It is not easy, but not to be attached leads to a insane loveless life.

Every religion has those parts that make sense to people, which then draw them to it. Then the surprise! Membership involves some hazing by also asking that people accept some nutty things!

For example, have you read all the rules of "proper behavior" for Buddhists? Granted, it might sound a bit more reasonable than mandatory stoning to death of you kids if they mouth off to you (reading past the "10 commandments" is a real treat), but having more rules than a human can possibly follow is major red tape overload.

So then maybe someone looks at Taoism. After all, Taoism is the actual source of the "Zen" part of Zen Buddhism and really the source of the "go with the flow" lecture. Sound reasonable at first, right? Check. Now actually read the "Dao De Ching." Wow. Really? It's ALL paradox or is that also a paradox? Am I having the deep thoughts yet? And mystical Taoism? People really still believe in the old Chinese polytheistic religion? Seriously? Are they on drugs? (Actually some of them, in fact, endorsed drug use to get in tune with the Tao, but other major factions rejected this idea, so the idea that druggies are attracted to Taoism and Buddism is only partly true and it's worth noting that these were the weak red-headed stepchild versions of these religions, while stronger groups took the higher road of seeking physical perfection through martial arts or lower road of seeking political power.)

"Philosophical Taoism" is technically not really a religion while still referencing the better ideas like the one you mentioned while rejecting the hogwash parts. Even then, Philosophical Taoism seeks intellectual enlightenment and will question even their own ideas. But adopting Philosophical Taoism isn't really a religious conversion, so no religious conversion was really needed anyway.

Thanks for stepping back from "Buddhism" because Buddhism, not even Zen Buddhism, is not about just "going with the flow." Try sitting even a one-day retreat with a legitimate Zen Master or at an actual Zen temple or practice center and you will see that it can be quite demanding in its own way.

Reading the Buddha's teachings in the straws I saw (this was back in my early twenties) that the Buddha constantly taught self-discipline and the need to make efforts until one has realized ones innate selfless compassion. The founder of the lineage of Buddhism I belong to constantly warned against complacence.

Now there is a point where one attains or perhaps I can say recovers a spontaneous unselfconscious authenticity. This is different, however, from just being self-absorbed and rationalizing ones lack of effort and discipline and caring. It's all too easy to just give in to ones bad habits and call that being natural, but to challenge oneself to overcome greed, hatred, and delusion and truly recover ones authenticity is something else altogether.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei