Zen Buddhism Final

Koan (gongan)

means "public case" or "predicament"
an enigmatic/shocking verbal encounter between masters and students used to break the attatchment to knowledge
said to embody the enlightenment experience, words to lead you beyond words
used often by the Rinzai/Linji School

Kanhua

a practice where one investigates Koans, or their "critical phrase," usually done in conjunction with sitting meditation - "language meditation"
after extensive effort, mind freezes into "ball of doubt," where the mind is ripe for enlightenment

Huatou ("critical phrase")

the important word/phrase in a Koan
words like "not" frustrates rational thought, actively engaging the mind

Zazen

nearly identical to Buddha Nature, [meditative] practice is equated to enlightenment, as in zazen is the preeminent means to attain (embody, manifest, express) enlightenment
NOT gradual practice bc no causal connection between practice and enlightenment, as they are identical
must continue to practice after enlightenment achieved, as practice is how it is expressed

Kensho

momentary glimpse of enlightenment

Satori

"to understand," referring to "deep" enlightenment, where "mind & body are cast off," the ego disappears, and there is no sense of limitation

Shikantaza

Dogen's translation of Chinese phrase "just sitting," which was used by his teacher Rujing
refers to Silent Illumination meditation

Silent Illumination (mozhao)

taught by Hongzhi, Caodong School's teachings (now rigid boundaries between Zen schools)
focused on non-dual, objectless meditation, drawing attention to apprehension of unified reality free from dualist grasping that leads to alienation
no subject, no object, as there is no difference between the two
ultimate goal is no seperation from one's own being and immediate moment-to-moment awareness. what you ahve in this very moment is enough
to meditate is to be enlightened

Shobogenzo

"Treasury of the True Dharma Eye"
master work of Eihei Dogen, founder of the Soto School

Linji/Rinzai

founded by Linji, who used abrupt, harsh encounters with students to induce enlightenment
Rinzai school was a continuation of the Linji School and 1st Zen School in Japan founded by Eisai.
Rinzai school used strict Koan practice and stressed sudden enlightenment. emphasize kensho experience in realizing enlightenment and use of Koan contemplation

Caodong/Soto

Caodong founded by Dongshan/Shitou. Soto founded by Hongzhi
practice to integrate experiential awareness (phenomena) with ultimate (universal) --> Silent Illumination meditation
when the trust self is found, you find you are identical with everything
"A sage has no self, yet there is nothing that is not himself"

Buddha Nature (tathagatagarba)

in everyone
aspecting of ordinary people that are already the same as a Buddha

Bodhisattva

on an endless quest to perfect spirtual qualities; set to attain buddhahood by following Buddha's example and guiding others

"Southern School"

"created" by Shenhui as the proper school that taught sudden enlightenment to promote Huineng as 6th Patriarch

"Northern School"

"created" by Shenhui to stigmatize Shenxui's followers, attacking Shenxui's so called "Northern school" that taught gradual enlightenment (which became taboo)

"Sudden Enlightenment"

Huineng, poor man, head man reciting Diamond Sutra and in that moment, attained enlightenment
the recognition that you enlightened.
This is officially Zen! No more Eightfold Noble Path

"Gradual Enlightment"

enlightenment must be developed. Eightfold Noble Path. Buddhism before Zen

mind-to-mind transmission

the buddhist tradition and enlightened experience of The Buddha is transmitted from one disciple to another
where we get Patriarchs, who are said to have received this transmission
first transmission occurred at the Flower Sermon, where Siddhartha passed on the lived Buddha experience to one of his disciples.

Tendai School

form of Buddhism founded in Japan, continues Chinese Tentai School
emphasize doctrine of "Original Enlightenment" (Buddha Nature)

hongaku theorry

"Original Enlightenment," so all sentient beings are already enlightened in some way (Buddha Nature)

Patriarch/Ancestor

lineage of Buddhists said to have the mind-to-mind transmission of the experience/teachings of The Buddha

Mahayana

"great vehicle"
2nd Turning of Wheel of Dharma
"deeper level" of teaching to select few from The Buddha

"ordinary Mind"

"Ordinary mind is the Way" from Mazu
daily tasks done without deliberation
ordinary thoughts are "the waves, but it is all just water"

samsara

cyclical existence
compelled to be reborn & suffer
eternal pain with rebirths (Doctrine of Reincarnation)

Mu (wu)

"not have; without"
nothing, an alternative to dichotomies

Eihei-ji Temple

founded by Dogen in the mountains in Echizen, center of Soto School

Emptiness (sunyata)

all form is emptiness and emptiness is form (Heart Sutra)
extension of No-Self

Perfection of Wisdon (prajnaparamita)

contains raise for the texts themselves, uses negative language, refrains from elaborate philosophical language
HEART SUTRA: form is emptiness and emptiness is form. No suffering, no wisdom in emptiness. All phenomena are empty of inherent existence
DIAMOND SUTRA: conditioned phenomena are dreams, illusions, shadows. They exist but not in the way we think

Mind Only

school says all phenomena are merely mind; reality if a projection of our minds

Wuwei

do nothing and nothing will remain undone
let go and do nothing, go with the flow

Dao

flow of the universe, no will, no desires, but determines all things
to experience, let go and do nothing
beyond words, can only be experienced through silence

Platform Sutra

sermon from Huineng (only Chinese text considerd a "sutra" not spoken by a buddha)
no thought, no mind
samsara and nirvana are the same thing

Tea Ceremony

highly structured ritual centered on the preparation, servive, and consumption of steaming bowls of matcha

Bodhi

"awakening" ; "enlightenment"
putting an end to the cycle of samsara and leads to Nirvana

Nirvana

liberation (moksa) from rebirths and suffering

"ox-herding" pictures

10 photos that display the path to enlightenment in Zen
tell the story of an ox-herder who tames and trains an ox, which represents that transformation his mind and heart undergoes
present in Zen temples

sanzen/dokusan

sanzen is going to a Zen master for instruction
in Rinzai school, called dokusan, which is private interviews between student and master, normally pertaining to an assigned koan

"uncarved block" (pu)

accept the uncarved block, a Daoist concept to represent a natural, simple, unforced nature of mind

"Dharma Combat" (encounter dialogue)

intense exchanges between student and master that demonstrate the student's understanding of the truth (Dharma), as well as push the student to immediate realization

Bodhi Tree

where The Buddha attained enlightenment
represents capacity for every person to achieve enlightenment

"no mind" (wuxin)

state of mind devoid of attatchments or thoughts that interrupt the flow. A flow state"
"no thought is not to think even when engaged in thought"

"Wall Gazing" (biguan)

Bodhidharma did for 9 years
wall contemplation, where self and other are the same, the false is discarded, and True Nature is revealed`

dhyana

"concentrated meditation" where uninterrupted contemplation of the object of meditation, beyond the ego

Dogen

founded Eihei-ji, the center of the Soto School
studied at multiple schools, gaining enlightenment with Rujing at the Tiantong school
proponent of zazen (seat meditation) and believed it was essential to Buddhist path
tells to abandon intellectual practices and "illuminate the self" in meditation
practice is enlightenment
if everything is done with total sincerity, everything is an opportunity for enlightenment

Eisai

founded Rinzai school (continuation of Linji School in Japan) @ Kennin-ji Temple
taught Dogen

Bodhidharma

brought Buddhism to China, 1st Zen Patriarch, had mind-to-mind transmission
deliberately confounded expectations
practiced well contemplation for 9 years
character became a projection screen for Zen Doctrine

Hakuin

"what is the sound of one's hands clapping?"
famous Rinzai master, reviving Rinzai Zen in Japan

Shenhui

ran smear campaign against Shenxiu, "inventing" a false 6th Patriarch, Huineng, and Southern/Northern School
stigmatized gradual enlightenment in Shenxiu's "Northern School"
Successful in promoting Huineng, but himself erased from history and not considered 7th patriarch

Sakyamuni

name for Siddhartha's Buddha in China
"Sage of the Sakya Clan"

Mahakasyapa

principles disciples of Siddhartha, who The Buddha transmitted his wisdom/Buddha experience to in the Flower Sermon
1st, original patriarch with mind-to-mind transmission

Hongren

disciple of Daoxin, led the Eastern Mountain School, exclusively teaching meditation and spreading teachings across China
wrote Treatise on the Essentials of Cultivating the mind, explaining 2 goals in practice: to gain ultimate knowledge of Buddha Nature and to recognize ultimate nonexistence

Linji

founded Linji School in China (became Rinzai school)
taught with abrupt, hard encounters with students to induce enlightenment
tradition became most successful in China

Mazu

student of Linji, 7th Patriarch
established Hongzhou School, became the 1st empire-wide Chan tradition
[in]famous for "innovative" teaching, renouncing meditation as you "cannot polish a rock into a mirror," just as you cannot make a buddha
advocated "Ordinary Mind is the Way"

Dahui

successor to Linji School, criticized Silent Illumination
Led Hongzhi's temple (who made Silent Illumination)
said contemplating sayings (kanhua) leads to direct, immediate experience of awakening
advocated for Koan practice

Hongzhi

head of Caodong School
known for Silent Illumination meditation (no subject, no object)
used subtle teaching

Shitou

7th Patriarch "with" Mazu
"The mind is Buddha," where ordinary, deluded mind not to different from Awakened Mind
No 2 minds, but 2 aspects of One Mind
heavy meditator

Shenxiu

Actual 6th Patriarch defamed by Shenhui
"The mind is a bodhitree"
Studied with Hongren and led Mountain School

Huangbo

taught Linju, disciple of Baizhang
famed for slapping and continued no-holds-barred method pioneered by Mazu

Zhaozhou

student of Nanguan
could have saved the cat in the dispute between the two monasteries
favored verbal debate over striking his students
known for asceticism

Rujing

Caodong monk at Tiantong in China who helped Dogen achieve Enlightenment

Huike

Bodhidharma's first disciple
cut off his arm to get Bodhidharma's attention
Huike passed mind-to-mind transmission after answering Bodhidharma's question with silent --> 2nd Patriarch
promoted meditation

Ikkyu

devout and eccentric monk, thought to be emperors illegitimate son
studied at Rinzai monastery
1st monk to be depicted with girlfriend and advocated for indulging in desires

Sengcan

3rd Patriarch

Nanguan

disciple of Mazu
combative encounters with students
famous for killing cat to settle dispute between 2 monasteries

Laozi

founder of Daoism, wrote Daodejing
"Old Sage" likely didn't exist

Zhuagzi

2nd great Daost text and name of sage with parables and paradoxes to explore Dao in ordinary life
encouraged to "sit quietly and do nothing"
"was I Zhuangzi draming I was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming I am Zhuangzi"

Emperor Wu (Liang Wudi)

Buddhist and interested in Bodhidharma.
invited him to tea, where tried to ask questions and Bodhidharma confounded all

Baizhong

said monks should do work
"a day with work is a day without eating"
taught by Mazu
taught Huangbo