Buddhism Final

kōan (gongan)

public case, a story or dialogue used in Zen practice to provoke doubt and test a student's progress

zazen (zuochan)

seated meditation central to Zen practice, emphasizing posture and breathing

shikantaza

"just sitting" meditation taught by Dogen, with no object or goal, pure awareness

Buddha Nature (tathāgata-garbha)

innate potential for enlightenment present in all beings

Shōbōgenzō

"Treasury of the True Dharma Eye," Dogen's major philosophical work

bodhisattva

being on the path to Buddhahood motivated by compassion to save others

Linji (Lin-chi)/Rizai (sect)

Zen school emphasizing abrupt methods like shouting and striking

Caodong (Ts’ao-tung)/Sōtō (sect)

Zen school emphasizing Silent Illumination and objectless meditation

satori

momentary enlightenment, an intuitive grasp of Buddha nature

kenshō

brief glimpse or initial insight into one's true nature

“Southern School”

Chan school advocating sudden enlightenment

“Northern School”

Chan school (term coined by Shenhui) portrayed as teaching gradual enlightenment

“Sudden Enlightenment”

instantaneous realization of Buddha nature

“Gradual Enlightenment”

enlightenment achieved through progressive cultivation

mind-to-mind transmission

direct transmission of insight from master to disciple

Tendai School

Japanese school founded by Saicho, emphasizing original enlightenment

hongaku

doctrine of original enlightenment, inherent Buddha nature

Patriarch/Ancestor

revered lineage holders in Chan/Zen tradition

Mahāyāna

"Great Vehicle," Buddhist movement focusing on universal enlightenment and compassion

“ordinary Mind”

everyday mind when free from attachment is the Way, as taught by Mazu

saṃsāra

cycle of birth, death, and rebirth driven by karma and ignorance

“Mu” (C. wu)

"no"—famous kōan used in meditation practice

Eihei-ji Temple

monastery founded by Dogen in Japan

Emptiness (śūnyatā)

all phenomena lack inherent existence

Perfection of Wisdom (prajñāpāramitā)

insight into emptiness, key Mahayana virtue

Mind Only

Yogacara school teaching that the world is a projection of the mind

huatou

"critical phrase" in kōan practice

kanhua

meditating on words, a method of kōan contemplation

wuwei

Daoist principle of effortless action, influential in Chan

Dao

fundamental principle of nature, beyond words, experienced through non-action

Platform Sūtra

text attributed to Huineng teaching sudden enlightenment and no-thought

Tea Ceremony

ritual embodying Zen aesthetics and mindfulness

bodhi

awakening, enlightenment

nirvāṇa

liberation from suffering and saṃsāra

“ox-herding” pictures

ten images depicting stages of enlightenment

sanzen/dokusan

private interview with Zen master for kōan practice

Silent Illumination (mozhao)

objectless meditation emphasizing non-duality

“uncarved block” (pu)

Daoist metaphor for natural, unspoiled state

“Dharma Combat” (encounter dialogue)

spontaneous exchange between Zen master and student

Bodhi Tree

tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment

“no-mind” (wuxin)

mind free of attachment and dualistic thought

“Wall Gazing” (biguan)

Bodhidharma's 9-year meditation facing a wall

dhyāna

meditative absorption, root of Chan/Zen

Dōgen

founder of Sōtō Zen in Japan, emphasized shikantaza

Eisai

founder of Japanese Rinzai Zen, brought tea culture to Japan

Bodhidharma

Indian monk, first patriarch of Chan in China

Hakuin

revitalizer of Rinzai Zen, systematized kōan practice

Huineng

Sixth Patriarch, advocate of sudden enlightenment

Shenhui

disciple of Huineng, promoted sudden enlightenment, coined “Northern School”

Śākyamuni

historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama

Mahākāśyapa

disciple of Buddha, first patriarch in Chan lineage

Hongren (Hung-jen)

Fifth Patriarch, taught meditation on Buddha nature

Linji (Lin-chi)

founder of Linji school, known for abrupt teaching methods

Mazu (Ma-tsu)

influential Chan master, taught ordinary mind as the Way

Dahui (Ta-hui)

Linji master, emphasized huatou kōan practice

Hongzhi (Hung-chih)

Caodong master, promoted Silent Illumination

Shitou (Shih-t’ou)

early Chan master, poet of grass hut hermitage

Shenxiu (Shen-hsiu)

leading Northern School figure, gradual cultivation

Huangbo (Huang-po)

Linji’s teacher, known for striking students

Zhaozhou (Chao-chou)

Linji’s disciple, known for subtle kōans

Rujing (Ju-ching)

Caodong master, Dogen’s teacher in China

Dongshan (Tung-shan)

co-founder of Caodong school

Ikkyū

eccentric Japanese Rinzai monk, poet and vagabond

Huike (Hui-k’o)

Bodhidharma’s disciple, famed for cutting off arm

Sengcan (Seng-ts’an)

third patriarch, author of “Faith in Mind”

Nanquan (Nan-ch’uan)

Mazu’s disciple, known for cat-killing story

Laozi (Lao-tzu)

legendary Daoist sage, author of Daodejing

Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu)

Daoist philosopher, known for butterfly dream

Emperor Wu (Liang Wudi)

Chinese emperor, supporter of Buddhism, met Bodhidharma