Download Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism
By: Willis Jackson
A brief history of Zen Buddhism
●
●
●
Although many people consider Zen to be an
exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism, it
actually originated in China.
The Chinese called the tradition, “Ch'an,” and
“Zen” is Japanese reading of the same word.
The Chinese rendition of “Zen” was
promulgated by an Indian sage named
“Bodhidharma.”
Historical Zen, continued.
●
●
Bodhidharma is
considered the first
practitioner of Zen.
Bodhidharma was
influenced by
Taoism, and married
some of its teachings
with those of
Buddhism.
Buddhism comes to Japan
●
●
Buddhism itself first
came to Japan from
Korea in the 6th
Century AD.
Prince Shotoku, felt
that by embracing
Buddhism, Japan
would become a
more refined country
with proper
principles.
●
●
Under Prince
Shotoku, Buddhism
became the national
religious tradition of
Japan.
Indeed, many new
schools of Buddhism
arose in Japan over
time.
Buddhism's effect on Japan
●
●
Buddhism has
played a key role in
Japan's political as
well as social affairs.
Many aspects, such
as marriage,
adulthood, and
funeral services were
orchestrated
according to
Buddhist principles.
More of Buddhism's effect
●
●
Shinto is the
indigenous religious
tradition of Japan.
However, as Shinto
does not have a
founder, it has no
strict guidelines
about life after death.
●
●
Buddhism provided a
guideline for daily
Japanese living,
including saying
grace at meals and
daily greetings.
Annual Buddhist
festivals have also
been created, and
are celebrated
throughout Japan.
Zen comes to Japan
●
●
In the year 1191 AD,
Zen came to Japan
from China.
Though he was not
the first overall
teacher, Eihei Dogen
established a firm
foothold for Zen
Buddhism in Japan.
Zen's teachings
●
Zen is a school of the
Mahayana sect of
Buddhism.
●
●
●
●
Zen places heavy
emphasis on the
cultivation of wisdom
through meditation,
awareness, and selfmastery.
As with other schools of
Buddhism, Zen teaches
compassion and
enlightenment.
●
Zen centers around the
concept of “emptiness.”
“Emptiness” is similar to
the Buddhist concept of
“Nirvana,” but is mostly
understood as the
realization of one's true
nature.
“Emptiness” also
conceptualizes that
things and events exist
for a reason.
Zen Practices
●
●
●
●
The name “Zen” refers
to sitting meditation as a
means to ultimate
realization.
“Zazen” is the practice
of deep meditation
within the tradition.
Beginners are taught to
focus entirely on one's
breath during this ritual.
The purpose of Zazen is
to see one's true self.
“Emptiness”
●
●
“Emptiness” in Zen
Buddhism, loosely
means the
“realization of one's
true nature.”
One's 'true nature' is
that of Buddha
nature, according to
Zen.
●
●
This realization must
be accomplished
through meditation
and discipline.
Only through this
realization and the
cultivation of wisdom,
can one achieve
enlightenment.
Two Schools of Zen
●
●
Before Dogen
founded “Soto” Zen
Buddhism, Eisai
founded “Rinzai” Zen
Buddhism.
The philosophies of
both schools differ in
terms of practice.
●
●
●
“Soto” Zen places
emphasis on meditation,
living peacefully, and
cultivating wisdom.
“Rinzai” Zen focuses on
meditation as well, but
also on “Koan” study.
“Rinzai” is older than
“Soto,” having been
established in Japan
earlier.
Zen Monastery life
●
●
As with other
Buddhist schools,
Zen also has temples
and monks who live
in them.
Any willing person
can become a Zen
monk, regardless of
gender or
background.
●
●
“Temple-stays” are
when people live in a
temple for a week or
a month, to
experience the
lifestyle.
The daily life of the
monk is dictated by
the scriptures and
Buddhist principles.
Daily life of a Zen monk.
●
●
●
Zen monks prefer to live
simple lives.
The typical day in the
life of a Zen monk
consists of cleaning,
studying the texts, and
meditating.
The Zen Monk is taught
to rise above one's
negative emotions, even
during otherwise
mundane chores.
Monk living (contd)
●
●
Buddhism teaches
the concept of nonattachment.
As such, a Zen monk
must shave his or
her hair and wear
robes while living on
the temple grounds.
●
●
The chores done by
the monks are tough,
but the monks are
encouraged to find
the meditative quality
of doing these
chores.
Monks keep verbal
communication to a
minimum, and it must
be low in volume.
Zen meals
●
●
●
Dogen emphasized
the importance of
non-killing in
Buddhism.
Zen meals are
vegetarian, making
use of mushrooms,
spinach, rice, and
other vegetables.
Nothing is wasted.
Meditation
●
●
●
Meditation is highly
stressed in Zen
Buddhist tradition.
Whether a layperson
or a monk, everyone
is encouraged to
meditate.
One's posture must
be correct in order to
meditate properly.
Zen as an everyday lifestyle
●
●
From its surface, Zen
is depicted to be very
rigid and demanding
as a tradition.
To the contrary,
anyone can practice
Zen anywhere,
regardless of socioeconomic or
national/ethnic
background.
●
●
Zen's ultimate
purpose is to
improve the lives of
all who practice it.
One can practice
Zen by changing
their personal habits,
meditating, living life
simply.
Zen comes to the West
●
●
●
After World War II, the
west began to embrace
Zen Buddhism as well.
For this, Zen has had a
great new following
outside of Japan and
China.
“Zen” is often misused
as a means of
describing atmosphere,
or fashion statements.
●
●
Many Japanese
restaurants will misuse
“Zen” as a way of
seeming more
authentic.
These restaurants
typically have nothing to
do with the philosophy
of Zen, and often serve
meat in spite of Dogen's
position against the
consumption of meat.
Zen goes to other places
●
●
●
Zen philosophy has
extended to other parts of
the world as well, and
continues today.
Vietnamese Zen Master
Thich Nhat Hanh founded
the Plum Village
Monastery in France, in
1982.
Through his actions, Zen's
teachings have been able
to reach farther.