Zen Tantra: Combination of shiatsu and other oriental techniques, developed by Shizuto Masunaga, the originator of Zen Shiatsu. Zen Tantra is an antecedent variation of Bodywork Tantra.

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

Zen-Touch (Zen-Touch body balancing, Zen-Touch therapy): Health balancing system developed by Seymour Koblin and promoted by the School of Healing Arts, in San Diego, California. It is a combination of: (a) Shiatsu Acupressure, and (b) way of life counseling, which includes recommendations concerning behavior, exercise, and nutrition.

(See also: Zen-Touch, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Zen Macrobiotics: Early form of macrobiotics, endorsed by Herman Aihara (1920-1998) and Cornelia Aihara. The Aiharas were students of George Ohsawa (see macrobiotics) and founded, in 1974, the Vega Study Center, in Oroville, California. The school teaches Zen Macrobiotics. (See diet #7.)

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

Zen Shiatsu: Type of shiatsu developed by Shizuto Masunaga (1925-1981). It includes kyo-jitsu. Zen Shiatsu theory posits a shareable heart-mind essence.

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

Zen-do (Japanese) "Seven jewels" {SD 1:173}

(See also: Zen-do, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Zen Shiatsu Acupressure (Zen Shiatsu Acupressure massage): Method that encompasses herbology, meditation, Oriental diagnostic techniques, prayer, Shiatsu Acupressure, tai chi, visualization, and Zen Shiatsu. Its theory posits the Five Elements.

(See also: Zen Shiatsu Acupressure, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

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.

Zen Alexander Technique: Interdisciplinary method that involves the Alexander Technique and Chinese energetic synthesis of MindBodySoulSpirit. The Zen Alexander Technique furthers unique synergistic healing powers, a means of creating one's own reality.

(See also: Zen Alexander Technique, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Natural Way Zen Shiatsu: A combination of natural healing modalities that includes Zen Shiatsu.

(See also: Natural Way Zen Shiatsu, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

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)

Zen: Japanese name for the Chinese school of Ch'an Buddhism. (See Ch'an).

 (See also: Zen, Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

Zen Hands-on-Healing Energywork: multidisciplinary approach to the laying on of hands. It opens the chakra and meridian systems and increases the energy flow of the body/mind/spirit.

(See also: Zen Hands-on-Healing Energywork, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

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)

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)

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)

Samu: Working Zen practice, especially physical labor.

 (See also: Samu, 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)