Quote: "Zen (Chinese: 禪; Pinyin: Chán; Japanese: 禅, romanized: zen; Korean: 선, romanized: Seon; Vietnamese: Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty."
A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of direct insight in the Buddhist teachings.
The four noble truths: Basic principles of Buddhism that speak to the causes of suffering and how to overcome it.
The Eightfold Path: The path towards enlightenment that involves the right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Meditation: The primary practice of Zen Buddhism, focusing on mindfulness and awareness of the present moment.
Koans: Riddles or paradoxical statements that are used in meditation to spur introspection and self-discovery.
Zazen: The traditional posture of Zen meditation, involving sitting cross-legged with hands in a particular position.
Mindfulness: A state of mind that involves being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judging or reacting.
Buddha nature: The inherent potential of every person to attain enlightenment, with sufficient skillful means and effort.
Dharma: The teachings and principles of Buddhism that guide practitioners towards enlightenment.
Sangha: The community of Buddhist practitioners who support each other in the study and practice of Buddhist teachings.
Precepts: The moral code of conduct that Buddhists try to follow, including non-harming, generosity, and honesty.
Rinzai Zen: Also known as the Linji School in Chinese, and is characterized by the use of koans: Abstract questions or statements that are meant to provoke insight and meditative realization. This type of Zen emphasizes sudden enlightenment and a focus on zazen (sitting meditation).
Soto Zen: This tradition emphasizes silent, seated meditation and continuous practice in everyday life. It does not rely on koans as much as Rinzai Zen does.
Sanbo Kyodan: This modern Zen tradition may be thought of as a combination of both Rinzai and Soto Zen, emphasizing both seated meditation and koans. Its founder, Yasutani Hakuun, was a key figure in bringing Zen to the West.
White Plum Asanga: This Zen school originated in the United States and was founded by Taizan Maezumi, a Japanese Zen master. It combines elements of Soto, Rinzai, and traditional Japanese Zen practices.
Obaku Zen: This is a relatively small school of Zen that combines Chinese and Japanese Zen practices. It puts emphasis on the importance of chanting sutras and uses a unique set of koans.
Fuke-shū: This was a small Zen sect that played a significant role in Japanese history. It is known for its use of a specific type of shakuhachi (a type of Japanese flute), which was used for meditation and as a way of expressing Zen teachings.
Yunmen: This school is named after Yunmen Wenyan, one of the greatest Zen masters of the Tang Dynasty. Yunmen Zen emphasizes intuitive insight and an element of spontaneity in practice.
Harada–Yasutani: This school combines elements of both Rinzai and Soto Zen and was founded by Dokutan Sodo Harada and Yasutani Hakuun. It emphasizes zazen (sitting meditation) and the use of koans.
Hangzhou Buddhism: This Zen tradition emphasizes the union of meditation and action, and is characterized by the use of the Tiantong Temple in Hangzhou. It is a combination of Chan Buddhism and the Pure Land tradition.
Engakuji: This is a prominent Rinzai Zen temple in Kamakura, Japan. It emphasizes the importance of zazen and meditation as a way of cultivating wisdom and attaining enlightenment.
Quote: "From China, Chán spread south to Vietnam and became Vietnamese Thiền."
Quote: "Northeast to Korea to become Seon Buddhism."
Quote: "East to Japan, becoming Japanese Zen."
Quote: "The term Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (chán), an abbreviation of 禪那 (chánnà), which is a Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit word ध्यान dhyāna ("meditation")."
Quote: "Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice, and the subsequent insight into nature of mind and nature of things."
Quote: "As such, it de-emphasizes knowledge alone of sutras and doctrine, and favors direct understanding through spiritual practice and interaction with an accomplished teacher or Master."
Quote: "Zen teaching draws from numerous sources of Sarvastivada meditation practice and Mahāyāna thought, especially Yogachara, the Tathāgatagarbha sūtras, the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, and the Huayan school."
Quote: "with their emphasis on Buddha-nature, totality, and the Bodhisattva-ideal."
Quote: "The Chan School was also influenced by Taoist philosophy, especially Neo-Daoist thought."
Quote: "Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice, and the subsequent insight into nature of mind and nature of things."
Quote: "It de-emphasizes knowledge alone of sutras and doctrine."
Quote: "The personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others."
Quote: "Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint."
Quote: "...favors direct understanding through spiritual practice and interaction with an accomplished teacher or Master."
Quote: "The Prajñāpāramitā literature, as well as Madhyamaka thought, have also been influential in the shaping of the apophatic and sometimes iconoclastic nature of Zen rhetoric."
Quote: "The apophatic and sometimes iconoclastic nature of Zen rhetoric."
Quote: "Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice..."
Quote: "the subsequent insight into the nature of mind and nature of things."
Quote: "The personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others."