Buddhism in The East
Glossary of Key Terms
- Kensho: The recognition that ones true nature is already one of a Buddha’s Nature.
- Satori: A glimpse of the true nature of things.
- Samu: Physical work completed mindfully.
- Zazen: A practice of mediation allowing thoughts to come and go.
- Koans: Questions with on logical answers.
- Kyosaku: ‘The Encouragement Stick’ used in Zen Buddhism by Roshi.
- Roshi: Zen Buddhism Masters, they oversee The Zazen Meditation.
- Amitabha: The Buddha who established the Pure Land Realm, a realm without suffering
in which beings can be reborn and easily make progress towards Enlightenment.
- Nembutsu: The chant of PLB – “Namu Amida Butsu – I pay homage to Amitabha
Buddha”.
- Jodo Shu: The school created by Honen, he believed that just if you chant Amitabha’s
name (with total devotion, and had faith) then you would be reborn in PL.
- Jodo Shinshu: Founded by Shinran, his school means ‘true’ – Shinran believed chanting
is not the only thing you must do, but an emphasis must be placed on faith.
Enlightenment came as a consequence of genuine faith in Amitabha.
Zen Buddhism
Zen was a 6th century development of the Yogacara Denomination of Mahayana Buddhism.
The name ‘zen’ derives from the Japanese pronunciation of Chan, which is a Chinese
pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Dhyana (meditation). This is because Zen Buddhism
developed in Japan from the origins of Chan Buddhism in China.
Zen is a product of the adaptation of The Buddhas teaching within a Chinese, Korean and
then Japanese context. Much of its initial development can be seen as the merging of Taoist
ideas with Buddhism. There are many similarities in concepts so the basic message of
overcoming suffering through training the mind to overcome the craving (Tanha) that
characteristics Samsara is still clearly seen.
The essence of Zen Buddhism lies in attempting to understand the meaning of life directly
without being misled by logical thought or language. On other words, Zen Buddhism
focuses on an ‘Inward Reflection’ for discovering truths about the universe, rather than
relying on the discoveries of others. Similar to The Buddha’s teaching of ‘Ehipassiko’, Zen
, Buddhism is not necessarily something that can be described, but rather something that
needs to be experienced in order to understand.
Zen Buddhism places a specific focus on the Mahayana concept of the ‘Buddha Nature’. Zen
Buddhists believe that all beings posses and essence of The Buddha, and that all that is
needed to do is to explore within us to discover our Buddha Essence and attain
Enlightenment. As a result, Zen Buddhism places an emphasis on the possibility of sudden
Enlightenment rather than a prolonged practice of perfecting qualities.
Bodhidharma
According to Buddhist Legend, the Ch’an School was founded by Bodhidharma (470-520),
who was born in Southern India and travelled to Southern China where he spread Buddhist
Teachings. These teachings were later spread throughout Asia, where they were given the
name ‘Zen’ in Japan.
Historical records of Bodhidharma are practically non-existent, all that is known of him
derives from Buddhist Legend, portraying him as an avid practitioner of meditation. There
are many legends connected to the effort of Bodhidharma’s meditative practices:
- Some accounts of Bodhidharma state that while he was mediating, he faced problems
with sleep (possibly Insomnia), so he cut off his eye lids with a knife.
- Another legend says that the sun burned his shadow onto the rock where he mediated
because he sat there for many years.
- Another legend suggests that, during the last 9 years of his life, Bodhidharma sat facing
a wall mediating until his legs withered away and fell off!
The Flower Sermon
The start of Zen Buddhism is believed to have been marked by particular sermon delivered
by The Buddha himself. Known as the ‘flower sermon’. In the Flower Sermon, The Buddha
gathered his disciples together at a pond for talk on Dharma. However, instead of speaking
The Buddha simply reached into the muck of the pond and pulled out a lotus flower, which
he held in front of him without saying a word. Everyone in the assembly was trying to make
sense of The Buddha’s message, waiting for him to speak. But he never did. The monks
were baffled, but one of them, Mahakasyapa, suddenly understood The Buddha’s meaning
and smiled. The Buddha then said:
“I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvellous mind of Nirvana,
the true form of the formless, the subtle Dharma gate that does
not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of
the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahakasyapa”.
What does this mean:
Glossary of Key Terms
- Kensho: The recognition that ones true nature is already one of a Buddha’s Nature.
- Satori: A glimpse of the true nature of things.
- Samu: Physical work completed mindfully.
- Zazen: A practice of mediation allowing thoughts to come and go.
- Koans: Questions with on logical answers.
- Kyosaku: ‘The Encouragement Stick’ used in Zen Buddhism by Roshi.
- Roshi: Zen Buddhism Masters, they oversee The Zazen Meditation.
- Amitabha: The Buddha who established the Pure Land Realm, a realm without suffering
in which beings can be reborn and easily make progress towards Enlightenment.
- Nembutsu: The chant of PLB – “Namu Amida Butsu – I pay homage to Amitabha
Buddha”.
- Jodo Shu: The school created by Honen, he believed that just if you chant Amitabha’s
name (with total devotion, and had faith) then you would be reborn in PL.
- Jodo Shinshu: Founded by Shinran, his school means ‘true’ – Shinran believed chanting
is not the only thing you must do, but an emphasis must be placed on faith.
Enlightenment came as a consequence of genuine faith in Amitabha.
Zen Buddhism
Zen was a 6th century development of the Yogacara Denomination of Mahayana Buddhism.
The name ‘zen’ derives from the Japanese pronunciation of Chan, which is a Chinese
pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Dhyana (meditation). This is because Zen Buddhism
developed in Japan from the origins of Chan Buddhism in China.
Zen is a product of the adaptation of The Buddhas teaching within a Chinese, Korean and
then Japanese context. Much of its initial development can be seen as the merging of Taoist
ideas with Buddhism. There are many similarities in concepts so the basic message of
overcoming suffering through training the mind to overcome the craving (Tanha) that
characteristics Samsara is still clearly seen.
The essence of Zen Buddhism lies in attempting to understand the meaning of life directly
without being misled by logical thought or language. On other words, Zen Buddhism
focuses on an ‘Inward Reflection’ for discovering truths about the universe, rather than
relying on the discoveries of others. Similar to The Buddha’s teaching of ‘Ehipassiko’, Zen
, Buddhism is not necessarily something that can be described, but rather something that
needs to be experienced in order to understand.
Zen Buddhism places a specific focus on the Mahayana concept of the ‘Buddha Nature’. Zen
Buddhists believe that all beings posses and essence of The Buddha, and that all that is
needed to do is to explore within us to discover our Buddha Essence and attain
Enlightenment. As a result, Zen Buddhism places an emphasis on the possibility of sudden
Enlightenment rather than a prolonged practice of perfecting qualities.
Bodhidharma
According to Buddhist Legend, the Ch’an School was founded by Bodhidharma (470-520),
who was born in Southern India and travelled to Southern China where he spread Buddhist
Teachings. These teachings were later spread throughout Asia, where they were given the
name ‘Zen’ in Japan.
Historical records of Bodhidharma are practically non-existent, all that is known of him
derives from Buddhist Legend, portraying him as an avid practitioner of meditation. There
are many legends connected to the effort of Bodhidharma’s meditative practices:
- Some accounts of Bodhidharma state that while he was mediating, he faced problems
with sleep (possibly Insomnia), so he cut off his eye lids with a knife.
- Another legend says that the sun burned his shadow onto the rock where he mediated
because he sat there for many years.
- Another legend suggests that, during the last 9 years of his life, Bodhidharma sat facing
a wall mediating until his legs withered away and fell off!
The Flower Sermon
The start of Zen Buddhism is believed to have been marked by particular sermon delivered
by The Buddha himself. Known as the ‘flower sermon’. In the Flower Sermon, The Buddha
gathered his disciples together at a pond for talk on Dharma. However, instead of speaking
The Buddha simply reached into the muck of the pond and pulled out a lotus flower, which
he held in front of him without saying a word. Everyone in the assembly was trying to make
sense of The Buddha’s message, waiting for him to speak. But he never did. The monks
were baffled, but one of them, Mahakasyapa, suddenly understood The Buddha’s meaning
and smiled. The Buddha then said:
“I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvellous mind of Nirvana,
the true form of the formless, the subtle Dharma gate that does
not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of
the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahakasyapa”.
What does this mean:
