Zen is a branch of Buddhism and as such is based on and deeply rooted in the Buddha's teachings. It is also very much the child of China and has some teaching derived from Confucianism and Taoism. The Zen branch calls itself the Buddha Heart School and traces its lineage back to the Buddha, with the Flower Sermon being the first transmission of the Dharma. It's common for daily chanting to include the lineage of the school, reciting the names of all "dharma ancestors" and teac ...

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Zen Buddhism: A Japanese branch of Mahayana Buddhism believed to have originated in India from the teachings of a Buddhist master, Bodhidharma, about 600 BC, but traced back by advocates to the Buddha himself. Practitioners seek satori (sudden illumination enabling bliss and harmony), which cannot be explained but only experienced.

Techniques include zazen (sitting meditation techniques) and koans, which are short riddles or sayings. The koans (which number about 1700) are not designed to have cognitive answers but to promote the experience of Zen.

(See also: Zen Buddhism, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Zen Buddhism: Zen Buddhist Dictionary

A dictionary of Zen Buddhism terms. Please note that all words in grey like " Buddhism " are links to an archive with related articles.

For more dictionary entries, see » Zen Buddhism Dictionary

When Boddhidharma, was presented to the emperor of China, the ruler of the Middle Kingdom recounted the many great works of charity he had performed for his people, of the places of worship he had built and the religious ceremonies he had conducted.

“Tell me then”, he asked Boddhidharma, “having done all these good works, what is the merit I have earned for myself?” And the sage replied gruffly: “None whatsoever”. The Emperor was outraged. “Who is it who dares to speak to me in such an impudent manner?” he demanded. And Boddhidharma looked at the Emperor and said, “No one at all”.

This story is central to the teachings of Zen Buddhism that Boddhidharma took with him from India to China.

(See also: Zen Buddhism, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Zen: Literally translated, zen means meditation. Zen is one of four major schools of Buddhism. The other schools are: Mahayana, Theravada, Zen (or Ch'an or Son), and Vajrayana.

 (See also: Zen, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Zen.

A major school of Mahayana Buddhism, with several branches.

One of its most popular techniques is meditation on koans, which leads to the generation of the Great Doubt. According to this method: The master gives the student a koan to think about, resolve, and then report back on to the master. Concentration intensifies as the student first tries to solve the koan intellectually. This initial effort proves impossible, however, for a koan cannot be solved rationally. Indeed, it is a kind of spoof on the human intellect.

Concentration and irrationality -- these two elements constitute the characteristic psychic situation that engulfs the student wrestling with a koan. As this persistent effort to concentrate intellectually becomes unbearable, anxiety sets in. The entirety of one's consciousness and psychic life is now filled with one thought. The exertion of the search is like wrestling with a deadly enemy or trying to make one's way through a ring of flames. Such assaults on the fortress of human reason inevitably give rise to a distrust of all rational perception.

This gnawing doubt (Great Doubt), combined with a futile search for a way out, creates a state of extreme and intense yearning for deliverance. The state may persist for days, weeks or even years; eventually the tension has to break. (Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism, Vol. I, p.253.)

An interesting koan is the koan of Buddha Recitation. Unlike other koans, it works in two ways. First of all, if a cultivator succeeds in his meditation through this koan, he can achieve awakening as with other koans. However, if he does not succeed, and experience shows that many cultivators do not, then the meditation on the Buddha's narne helps him to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land.

This is so provided he believes (as most practitioners in Asia do) in Amitabha and the expedient Pure Land. Thus, the Buddha Recitation koan provides a safety net, and demonstrates the underlying unity of Zen and Pure Land.

 (See also: Zen, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Samu: Working Zen practice, especially physical labor.

 (See also: Samu, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Son: Korean name for Zen.

 (See also: Son, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ch'an: Chinese name for Zen.

 (See also: Ch'an, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Saijojo: The form of Zen that emphasizes realization without support, through shikan-taza. This is the form of Zen most emphasized in the Soto school.

 (See also: Saijojo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dojo: A center of training for Zen.

 (See also: Dojo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Gedo: Non-Buddhist Zen; Zen without Buddhist teachings. Often associated with mysticism and super-natural powers, which are usually what is being sought by its practitioners.

 (See also: Gedo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Zendo: A place where Zen is practiced. Many formal zendos are only a room. Some may be a building. Others may be a compound. The world is a zendo, as is any place we practice Zen.

 (See also: Zendo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Student: In Zen a student is a traveler, one who is practicing Zen under a master or teacher to find self-awareness. The student is really his or her own teacher, though they usually do not know this until they have been enlightened. In this book, student does not mean one who studies Zen academically.

 (See also: Student, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Mushotoku: The optimum state for Zen practice, in which there is no goal or object, no intention for self gain or profit.

 (See also: Mushotoku, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dhyana: The seventh element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning meditation. It is equivalent to Zen and Ch'an, which are transliterations of dhyana.

 (See also: Dhyana, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Bodhidharma: (Daruma in Japanese) In this book he is credited with popularizing Ch'an during the early sixth century C.E. He is also considered, in this book, to be the first eccentric Zen master. Other researchers have credited Bodhidharma with being the founder of Zen. See also Tao-sheng.

 (See also: Bodhidharma, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Daijo: The Mahayana way of Zen, the Great Vehicle. Practitioners must be able to see into their true natures and put forth their beliefs, their way, in their daily lives. Thus they actualize their true nature. This is the form of Zen most emphasized in the Rinzai school.

 (See also: Daijo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shojo: The Hinayana form of Zen, or Lesser Vehicle. This form, as opposed to the Daijo, is very individualistic, intending to take only the practitioner from maya to nirvana.

 (See also: Shojo, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Rinzai: School of Zen emphasizing the use of koans. It is a teacher centered school, where meditation is done facing the center of the room. The Rinzai school was brought to Japan by Eisai.

 (See also: Rinzai, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)