Zen Buddhism

Zen

meditation

Dyana, Ch’an_, Zen

Ch’an is the Chinese sect of Buddhism that focuses on the experience of enlightenment. Dyana, ch’an and zen are different ways to say meditation

Mahakasyapa and the “Flower Sermon”

Mahakasyapa was the only follower who understood the buddhas “Flower Sermon”. He was the Buddhas Successor.

Bodhidharma

he brought buddhism to china in AD 520.

Hui Neng

Patriarch under whom Chinese Zen flourishes

Differences between Rinzai & Soto Zen

Rinzai: Sudden Awakening

Soto: Gradual Awakening

Satori

• “Pure”/direct experience beyond thought, feeling, words, names (all ego-projection)

• Not permanent

• Emphasized most in Rinzai school

Difference between satori and nirvana

Buddhism describe nirvana as a state of transcendence – an other-worldly experience, the top of a mountain. In Japanese Zen, the word, SATORI, is often used instead of nirvana – to refer to sudden awakening – and satori can happen at any moment, wherever we are, even at the bottom of the mountain.

Koans, their purpose, how they are different from ordinary riddles, how they are “answered,”

Riddle/Puzzle that evades logic

Roshi

Zen masters who are deemed competent to teach others

Dokusan

meeting with “roshi”

Zazen & It’s meaning/purpose

seated meditation

Zen Mind equals what?

Beginner’s mind

Haiku

a poetic form with 17 syllables. 5-7-5

Sumie

a black ink painting

Samu

all daily activity (eg. work, tasks, arts, crafts) done with mindfulness

Familiarity with details of Zen monastic life

Social/cultural aspects of Zen