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Zen (Japanese: 禅), the Japanese translation for Chan (Traditional Chinese: 禪; Simplified Chinese: 禅), is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the The Schools of Buddhism. Buddhism is classified in various ways Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

Zen emphasizes dharma practice and experiential wisdom—particularly as realized in the form of meditation known as zazen—in the attainment of awakening. Experience as a general concept comprises Knowledge of or skill in or Observation of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment As such, it putatively de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct, experiential realization. The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of Knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion. Knowledge is defined ( Oxford English Dictionary) variously as (i expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education the theoretical or practical understanding "Zen" is the Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese word ("Chan"), which is a Chinese pronunciation of a Sanskrit word ("dhyan"), meaning "meditation". ^[1]

The establishment of Chan (Zen) is traditionally credited to the Indian prince turned monk Bodhidharma who is recorded as having come to China to teach a "special transmission outside scriptures" which "did not stand upon words. Biography Contemporary accounts There are two known extant accounts written by contemporaries of Bodhidharma " The emergence of Chan as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century CE. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. It is thought to have developed as an amalgam of various currents in Mahāyāna Buddhist thought—among them the Yogācāra and Madhyamaka philosophies and the Prajñāpāramitā literature—and of local traditions in China, particularly Taoism and Huáyán Buddhism. Yogācāra (Sanskrit "yoga practice" "one whose practice is yoga" Chinese Yüjiazong "Yoga School" 瑜珈宗 is an influential school of Eastern Philosophy Madhyamaka ( Sanskrit: मध्यमक Madhyamaka,, Pinyin: Zhōngguānzōng; also known as Śunyavada) is a Buddhist " Perfection of Wisdom " is a translation of the Sanskrit term prajñā pāramitā ( Devanagari: प्रज्ञा पारमिता Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions From China, Chan subsequently spread southwards to Vietnam and eastwards to Korea and Japan. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Zen also began to establish a notable presence in North America and Europe. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The twentieth century of the Common Era began on

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Mythology 2.1 The Flower Sermon 2.2 Bodhidharma 3 Early history 4 The Five Houses of Zen 5 Zen teachings and practices 5.1 Basis 5.2 Zen meditation 5.2.1 Zazen 5.2.2 Sesshin 5.3 The Zen teacher 5.4 Koan practice 5.5 Chanting and liturgy 5.6 Other techniques 6 Chan in China 7 Zen in Japan 8 Thiền (Zen) in Vietnam 9 Seon (Zen) in Korea 10 Zen in the Western world 10.1 Zen and Western culture 10.2 Western Zen lineages 10.2.1 Pan-lineage organizations 11 See also 11.1 Zen authors 11.2 Traditional 11.3 Modern 12 References 13 External links

Etymology

Japanese		Chinese		Korean		Sanskrit
Romaji	Zen	Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin	Chán	Revised Romanization	Seon	Romanization	Dhyāna
Hiragana	ぜん	Mandarin Wade-Giles	Ch'an	McCune-Reischauer	Sŏn	Devanāgarī	ध्यान
Kanji	禅	Cantonese Jyutping	Sim3	Hangul	선	Pali
Vietnamese		Shanghainese (Wu)	Zeu [zø]	Hanja	禪	Romanization	Jhāna
Quốc ngữ	Thiền	Traditional Chinese	禪			Devanāgarī	झान
Hán tự	禅	Simplified Chinese	禅			Sinhala	ඣාන

"Zen", pronounced [zeɴ] in Japanese, is the Sino-Japanese reading of the Chinese character 禅, which is pronounced [tʂʰán] (pinyin: chán) in modern Standard Mandarin Chinese, but was likely pronounced [d​͡zʲen] in Middle Chinese. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The romanization of Japanese or ( is the use of the Latin alphabet to write the Japanese language. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. In Linguistics, romanization (or latinization, also spelled romanisation or latinisation) is the representation of a Word or Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from is a Japanese Syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system, along with Katakana and Kanji; the Latin alphabet Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana Jyutping (sometimes spelled Jyutpin) is a Romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. Vietnamese ( tiếng Việt, or less commonly Việt ngữ) formerly known under French colonization as Annamese ( see Annam) Shanghainese (上海閒話 in Shanghainese sometimes referred to as the Shanghai dialect, is a dialect of Wu Chinese spoken in the city of Shanghai Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated In Linguistics, romanization (or latinization, also spelled romanisation or latinisation) is the representation of a Word or Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from The Vietnamese alphabet has the following 29 letters in collating order Description The Vietnamese alphabet called Chữ Quốc Ngữ Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan. Hán tự ( {{IPA|/han˦˥ tɯ˨/}}; 漢[[wikt 字|字]] meaning " Chinese character " or chữ Nho ( {{IPA|/tɕɯ˧˨˧ ɲɔ/}} The Sinhala script is an Abugida script used in Sri Lanka to write the Official language Sinhala and also sometimes the Liturgical is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Sino-Japanese or Kango (ja [[wikt漢語 漢語]] in Japanese, refers to that portion of the Japanese vocabulary that originated in the are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Standard Mandarin, also known as Standard Spoken Chinese, is the official modern Chinese spoken language used in mainland China and Taiwan Middle Chinese ( or Ancient Chinese as used by linguist Bernhard Karlgren, refers to the Chinese language spoken during Southern and Northern ^[2] The term "zen" is in fact a contraction of the seldom-used long form zenna (禅那; Mandarin: chánnà), a derivation from the Sanskrit term dhyāna (Pāli: jhāna), which refers to a specific type or aspect of meditation. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. The Sanskrit word is derived from the Indo-European root *dheiə-, meaning "see, look". While "Zen" is the name most often used in the English-speaking world, it is also known as Chan in China, Seon in Korea, and Thiền in Vietnam and dhyāna in India. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

Mythology

Within Zen, there are various legends and mythologies, largely a part of Chinese and Japanese folklore, which must be carefully distinguished from Zen history. Chinese folklore has a long history going back several thousand years Japanese folklore is the Folklore of Japan. It is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country

The Flower Sermon

The origins of Zen Buddhism are ascribed to the Flower Sermon, the earliest source for which comes from the 14th century. Within Zen, and thus from an emic perspective the origins of Zen Buddhism are ascribed to what is rendered in English as the "Flower Sermon" in which Śākyamuni ^[3] It is said that Gautama Buddha gathered his disciples one day for a dharma talk. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder A Dharma talk ( Japanese: Hōjo) is a public discourse on Buddhism by a Buddhist teacher When they gathered together, the Buddha was completely silent and some speculated that perhaps the Buddha was tired or ill. The Buddha silently held up a flower and several of his disciples tried to interpret what this meant, though none of them was correct. One of the Buddha's disciples, Mahākāśyapa, silently gazed at the flower and is said to have gained a special insight directly from the Buddha's mind, beyond words. Mahākāśyapa or Kāśyapa was a brahman of Magadha, who became one of the principal disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha and who convened and directed Mahākāśyapa somehow understood the true inexpressible meaning of the flower and the Buddha smiled at him, then acknowledged Mahākāśyapa's insight by saying the following:

I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvelous 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 Mahākāśyapa. ^[3]

Thus, through Zen there developed a way which concentrated on direct experience rather than on rational creeds or revealed scriptures. Wisdom was passed, not through words, but through a lineage of one-to-one direct transmission of thought from teacher to student. It is commonly taught that such lineage continued all the way from the Buddha's time to the present. Historically, this claim is disputed, due to lack of evidence to support it. According to D. T. Suzuki, the idea of a line of descent from Gautama Buddha is a distinctive institution of Zen which he contends was invented by hagiographers to grant Zen legitimacy and prestige. ^[4]

Bodhidharma

From Mahākāśyapa through various other teachers and students, the dharma was eventually transmitted to the Indian monk, Bodhidharma. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Biography Contemporary accounts There are two known extant accounts written by contemporaries of Bodhidharma Several scholars have suggested that Bodhidharma as a person never actually existed, but was a combination of various historical figures over several centuries. ^[5]

In the Song of Enlightenment (證道歌 Zhèngdào gē) of Yǒngjiā Xuánjué (665-713)^[6]—one of the chief disciples of Huìnéng, the 6th patriarch of Chan Buddhism—it is written that Bodhidharma was the 28th patriarch in a line of descent from Mahākāśyapa, a disciple of Śākyamuni Buddha, and the first patriarch of Chan Buddhism:

Mahākāśyapa was the first, leading the line of transmission;

Twenty-eight Fathers followed him in the West;

The Lamp was then brought over the sea to this country;

And Bodhidharma became the First Father here:

His mantle, as we all know, passed over six Fathers,

And by them many minds came to see the Light. Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder ^[7]

Bodhidharma is said to have spent several decades living in a cave, staring at a cave wall, meditating. He left India in 517 C. E. and arrived in China in 520 C. E. , to spread Buddhism to Asia. When he got there, he found that Buddhism, which had already been established, was perverted by superstitious devotionalism, devoid of true insight. Thus, Bodhidharma focused on direct insight about one's own experience, under the instruction of a Zen teacher, discouraging misguided veneration of Buddhas for the sake of superstition. Often attributed to Bodhidharma is the Bloodstream Sermon, which was actually composed quite some time after his apparent death.

Buddhas don't save Buddhas. If you use your mind to look for a Buddha, you won't see the Buddha. As long as you look for a Buddha:somewhere else, you'll never see that your own mind is the Buddha. Don't use a Buddha to worship a Buddha. And don't use the mind to:invoke a Buddha. Buddhas don't recite sutras. Buddhas don't keep precepts. And Buddhas don't break precepts. Buddhas don't keep or:break anything. Buddhas don't do good or evil.

To find a Buddha, you have to see your nature. ^[8]

Another famous legend involving Bodhidharma is his meeting with Emperor Wu of Liang. Background Xiao Yan was born in 464 during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song. Emperor Wu took an interest in Buddhism and spent a great deal of public wealth on funding Buddhist monasteries in China. When he had heard that a great Buddhist teacher, Bodhidharma, had come to China, he sought an audience with him. When they met, Emperor Wu had asked how much karmic merit he had gained from his noble support of Buddhism. Bodhidharma replied, "None at all. " The Emperor asked, "Then what is the truth of the teachings?" Bodhidharma replied, "Vast emptiness, nothing holy. " So the emperor asked, "Then who are you standing in front of me?" Bodhidharma replied, "I do not know," and walked out.

Another legend involving Bodhidharma is that he visited the Shaolin Temple in the kingdom of Wei, at some point, and taught them a series of exercises which became the basis for the Shaolin martial arts. ^[5]

Early history

See also: Silk Road transmission of Buddhism

As noted above, much of Zen history is combined with mythology and there no longer exist the historical record required for a complete, accurate account of early Zen history. The Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to China started in the 1st century CE with a semi-legendary or quasi-historical account of an embassy sent to the West by the ^[9] Chan, as it is generally called when referencing Zen Buddhism in early China, developed from the interaction between Mahāyāna Buddhism and Taoism. Some scholars also argue that Chan has roots in yogic practices, specifically kammaṭṭhāna, the consideration of objects, and kasiṇa, total fixation of the mind. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the ^[3]

The entry of Buddhism into China was marked by interaction and syncretism with Taoic faiths, Taoism in particular. Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought ^[10] Buddhist scriptures were translated into Chinese with Taoist vocabulary, because it was originally seen as a kind of foreign Taoism. ^[11] In the Tang period, Taoism incorporated such Buddhist elements as monasteries, vegetarianism, prohibition of alcohol, the doctrine of emptiness, and collecting scripture into tripartite organisation. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by During the same time, Chan Buddhism grew to become the largest sect in Chinese Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times ^[3]

The establishment of Chan is traditionally credited to the Indian prince turned monk Bodhidharma (formerly dated ca 500 CE, but now ca early fifth century^[12]), who is recorded as having come to China to teach a "special transmission outside scriptures" which "did not stand upon words". Biography Contemporary accounts There are two known extant accounts written by contemporaries of Bodhidharma Bodhidharma settled in the kingdom of Wei where he took among his disciples Daoyu and Huike. The Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏 Pinyin: běi wèi 386 - 534) also known as the Tuoba Wei (拓拔魏 Later Wei (後魏 or Dazu Huike (487-593 ( Chinese: 大祖慧可 Chinese for short慧可 pinyin Huìkě Wade-Giles Hui-k’o Japanese Eka is considered the Second Patriarch of Chinese Early on in China Bodhidharma's teaching was referred to as the "One Vehicle sect of India. "^[13] The One Vehicle (Sanskrit Ekayāna), also known as the Supreme Vehicle or the Buddha Vehicle, was taught in the Lankavatara Sutra which was closely associated with Bodhidharma. Ekayāna is a Sanskrit word that can mean "one path" or "one vehicle" The Laṇkāvatāra Sutra ( Chinese: 楞伽經 is a Sutra of Mahayana Buddhism. However, the label "One Vehicle sect" did not become widely used, and Bodhidharma's teaching became known as the Chan sect for its primary focus on chan training and practice. Shortly before his death, Bodhidharma appointed Huike to succeed him, making Huike the first Chinese born patriarch and the second patriarch of Chan in China. Bodhidharma is said to have passed three items to Huike as a sign of transmission of the Dharma: a robe, a bowl, and a copy of the Lankavatara Sutra. The Laṇkāvatāra Sutra ( Chinese: 楞伽經 is a Sutra of Mahayana Buddhism. The transmission then passed to the second patriarch (Huike), the third (Sengcan), the fourth patriarch (Dao Xin) and the fifth patriarch (Hongren). Dazu Huike (487-593 ( Chinese: 大祖慧可 Chinese for short慧可 pinyin Huìkě Wade-Giles Hui-k’o Japanese Eka is considered the Second Patriarch of Chinese Jianzhi Sengcan (僧璨 (?-606 (Wade-Giles Chien-chih Seng-ts'an Japanese Kanchi Sosan is known as the Third Chinese Patriarch of Chán after Bodhidharma and Dayi Daoxin (Chinese 道信， Wade-Giles Tao-hsin) (Japanese Dōshin (580 - 651 was the fourth Chán Buddhist Patriarch following Jianzhi Sengcan Daman Hongren (Chinese 弘忍 (Wade-GilesShih Hung-jen Japanese Daiman Konin (601 - 674 was the 5th Chan Chán ( Buddhist) Patriarch in the traditional lineage

The sixth and last patriarch, Huineng (638–713), was one of the giants of Chan history, and all surviving schools regard him as their ancestor. Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in However, the dramatic story of Huineng's life tells that there was a controversy over his claim to the title of patriarch. After being chosen by Hongren, the fifth patriarch, Huineng had to flee by night to Nanhua Temple in the south to avoid the wrath of Hongren's jealous senior disciples. Daman Hongren (Chinese 弘忍 (Wade-GilesShih Hung-jen Japanese Daiman Konin (601 - 674 was the 5th Chan Chán ( Buddhist) Patriarch in the traditional lineage Nanhua Temple is the Zen Buddhist Monastery of the 6th Patriarch of Zen Buddhism Hui Neng. Later, in the middle of the 8th century, monks claiming to be among the successors to Huineng, calling themselves the Southern school, cast themselves in opposition to those claiming to succeed Hongren's then publicly recognized student Shenxiu (神秀). The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Yequan Shenxiu (神秀 (606?-706 (Wade-Giles Shen-hsiu Japanese Jinshū was one of the most influential Chan Buddhist masters of his day a patriarch of the 'East Mountain It is commonly held that it is at this point—the debates between these rival factions—that Chan enters the realm of fully documented history. Aside from disagreements over the valid lineage, doctrinally the Southern school is associated with the teaching that enlightenment is sudden, while the Northern school is associated with the teaching that enlightenment is gradual. The Southern school eventually became predominant and their Northern school rivals died out. Modern scholarship, however, has questioned this narrative, since the only surviving records of this account were authored by members of the Southern school.

The following are the six Patriarchs of Chan in China as listed in traditional sources:

1. Bodhidharma (बोधिधर्म) about 440 - about 528
2. Huike (慧可) 487 - 593
3. Sengcan (僧燦) ? - 606
4. Daoxin (道信) 580 - 651
5. Hongren (弘忍) 601 - 674
6. Huineng (慧能) 638 - 713

The Five Houses of Zen

Developing primarily in the Tang dynasty in China, Classic Zen is traditionally divided historically into the Five Houses of Zen or five "schools". Biography Contemporary accounts There are two known extant accounts written by contemporaries of Bodhidharma Events By Place Western Roman Empire Geiseric, king of the Vandals, captures Sicily. Events By Place Byzantine Empire February 13 — Justinian appoints a commission (including the Jurist Dazu Huike (487-593 ( Chinese: 大祖慧可 Chinese for short慧可 pinyin Huìkě Wade-Giles Hui-k’o Japanese Eka is considered the Second Patriarch of Chinese For the processor see Intel 80487. Events Births Xiao Baoyin Events By Place Europe Aethelfrith succeeds Hussa as king of Bernicia (traditional date Jianzhi Sengcan (僧璨 (?-606 (Wade-Giles Chien-chih Seng-ts'an Japanese Kanchi Sosan is known as the Third Chinese Patriarch of Chán after Bodhidharma and Events By Place Europe Cearl becomes king of Mercia. Asia Shashanka Dayi Daoxin (Chinese 道信， Wade-Giles Tao-hsin) (Japanese Dōshin (580 - 651 was the fourth Chán Buddhist Patriarch following Jianzhi Sengcan Events By Place Europe Ethelbert becomes king of Kent. The Roman Senate sends an embassy to Constantinople Events Europe Clovis II, king of Neustria and Burgundy, marries the future Saint Bathilde. Daman Hongren (Chinese 弘忍 (Wade-GilesShih Hung-jen Japanese Daiman Konin (601 - 674 was the 5th Chan Chán ( Buddhist) Patriarch in the traditional lineage Events By Place Byzantine Empire Peter (Byzantine General defeats the Eurasian Avars. Events By Place Europe Dagobert II and Theuderic I succeed Childeric II as king(s of the Franks Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in Events By Place Asia The Muslims capture Jerusalem, Antioch, Caesarea Maritima and Akko ---- Events By Place Byzantine Empire Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is deposed Anastasius II is made emperor The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National These were not originally regarded as "schools," or "sects," but historically, they have come to be understood that way. In their early history, the schools were not institutionalized, they were without dogma, and the teachers who founded them were not idolized.

The Five Houses of Zen are^[9] :

• Guiyang (Japn. Guiyang ( is the capital of Guizhou Province the People's Republic of China. ,Igyo), named after masters Guishan Lingyou (Japn. , Isan Reiy, 771-854) and Yangshan Huiji (Japn. , Kyozan Ejaku, 813-890)
• Linji (Japn. Línjì Yìxuán (臨済義玄 Wade-Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866 was the founder of the Linji school , Rinzai), named after master Linji Yixuan (Japn. The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. Línjì Yìxuán (臨済義玄 Wade-Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866 was the founder of the Linji school , Rinzai Gigen, d. Línjì Yìxuán (臨済義玄 Wade-Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866 was the founder of the Linji school 866)
• Caodong (Japn. Cáodòng (characters 曹洞宗 pinyin cáodòngzōng is a Chinese Zen Buddhist sect founded by Dongshan Liangjie and his Dharma-heirs , Soto), named after masters Dongshan Liangjie (Japn. Sōtō-shū ( Japanese: 曹洞宗 Cáodòngzōng is one of the two major Sino - Japanese Zen sects (the other being Rinzai) Tung-shan Liang-chieh ( Japanese Tōzan Ryōkai) ( 806 - 869) was an ancient Chinese Ch'an ( Zen, Jap , Tozan Ryokai, 807-869) and Caoshan Benji (Japn. Tung-shan Liang-chieh ( Japanese Tōzan Ryōkai) ( 806 - 869) was an ancient Chinese Ch'an ( Zen, Jap , Sozan Honjaku, 840-901)
• Yunmen (Japn. Yúnmén Wényǎn (862 or 864-949 CE (雲門文偃 Japanese: Ummon Bun'en; he is also variously known in English as "Unmon" "Ummon Daishi" , Unmon), named after master Yunmen Wenyan (Japn. Yúnmén Wényǎn (862 or 864-949 CE (雲門文偃 Japanese: Ummon Bun'en; he is also variously known in English as "Unmon" "Ummon Daishi" Yúnmén Wényǎn (862 or 864-949 CE (雲門文偃 Japanese: Ummon Bun'en; he is also variously known in English as "Unmon" "Ummon Daishi" , Unmon Bun’en, d. Yúnmén Wényǎn (862 or 864-949 CE (雲門文偃 Japanese: Ummon Bun'en; he is also variously known in English as "Unmon" "Ummon Daishi" 949)
• Fayan (Japn. , Hogen, named after master Fayan Wenyi (also Fa-yen Wen-i) (Japn. , Hogen Mon’eki, 885-958)

Most Zen lineages throughout Asia and the rest of the world originally grew from or were heavily influenced by the original five houses of Zen.

Zen teachings and practices

Basis

Zen asserts, as do other schools in Mahayana Buddhism, that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, the universal nature of inherent wisdom (Sanskrit prajna) and virtue, and emphasizes that Buddha-nature is nothing other than the nature of the mind itself. Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in Liáng Kǎi (梁楷 ( fl. late 12th -early 13th century) was a Chinese artist who studied with and then excelled his master Jia Shigu. Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Luminous mind in the Nikayas There is a clear reference in the Anguttara Nikaya to a " Luminous mind " present within all people be they corrupt or pure whether Wisdom is a concept of personal gaining of Knowledge, Understanding, Experience, discretion and intuitive understanding, along with a capacity In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight Virtue ( Latin virtus; Greek) is moral Excellence. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual The aim of Zen practice is to discover this Buddha-nature within each person, through meditation and mindfulness of daily experiences. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Mindfulness is concentrated awareness of one's thoughts actions or motivations Zen practitioners believe that this provides new perspectives and insights on existence, which ultimately lead to enlightenment.

In distinction to many other Buddhist sects, Zen de-emphasizes reliance on religious texts and verbal discourse on metaphysical questions. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Zen holds that these things lead the practitioner to seek external answers, rather than searching within their own minds for the direct intuitive apperception of Buddha-nature. Luminous mind in the Nikayas There is a clear reference in the Anguttara Nikaya to a " Luminous mind " present within all people be they corrupt or pure whether This search within goes under various terms such as “introspection,” “a backward step,” “turning-about,” or “turning the eye inward. ”

In this sense, Zen, as a means to deepen the practice and in contrast to many other religions, could be seen as fiercely anti-philosophical, iconoclastic, anti-prescriptive and anti-theoretical. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Iconoclasm, Greek for "image-breaking" is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious Icons and other symbols or monuments The importance of Zen's non-reliance on written words is often misunderstood as being against the use of words. However, Zen is deeply rooted in both the scriptural teachings of the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama and in Mahāyāna Buddhist thought and philosophy. What Zen emphasizes is that the awakening taught by the Buddha came through his meditation practice, not from any words that he read or discovered, and so it is primarily through meditation that others too may awaken to the same insights as the Buddha.

The teachings on the technique and practice of turning the eye inward are found in many suttas and sutras of Buddhist canons, but in its beginnings in China, Zen primarily referred to the Mahayana Sutras and especially to the Lankavatara Sutra. Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars Historicity and Background Place in the Canon Various Mahayana Sutras have been included in the Tibetan Canon and the Chinese Canon. The Laṇkāvatāra Sutra ( Chinese: 楞伽經 is a Sutra of Mahayana Buddhism. Ironically, since Bodhidharma taught the turning-about techniques of dhyana with reference to the Lankavatara Sutra, the Zen school was initially identified with that sutra. Biography Contemporary accounts There are two known extant accounts written by contemporaries of Bodhidharma It was in part through reaction to such limiting identification with one text that Chinese Zen cultivated its famous non-reliance on written words and independence of any one scripture. However, a review of the teachings of the early Zen masters clearly reveals that they were all well versed in various scriptures. For example, in The Platform Sutra of the Sixth ancestor and founder Huineng, this famously "illiterate" Zen master cites and explains the Diamond Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, and the Lankavatara Sutra. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch ( Chinese:六祖壇經 fully 南宗頓教最上大乘摩訶般若波羅蜜經六祖惠能大師於韶州大梵寺施法壇經 Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in The Diamond Sutra is a short Mahayana Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom genre which teaches the practice of the avoidance of abiding in extremes The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma (Sanskrit sa सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma The Vimalakīrti Sūtra ( Chinese: 維摩詰經 is a Mahayana sutra, belonging to Mahayana Buddhism The Śūraṃgama-sūtra, usually spelled Shurangama Sutra or Surangama Sutra in English is a Mahayana Sutra and one of the main

When Buddhism came to China the doctrine of the three core practices or trainings, the training in virtue and discipline in the precepts (Sanskrit Śīla), the training in mind through meditation (dhyana or jhana) sometimes called concentration (samadhi), and the training in discernment and wisdom (prajna), was already established in the Pali canon. Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight ^[14] In this context, as Buddhism became adapted to Chinese culture, three types of teachers with expertise in each training practice developed. Vinaya masters were versed in all the rules of discipline for monks and nuns. The Vinaya (a word in Pāli as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning 'leading out' 'education' 'discipline' is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist Dhyana masters were versed in the practice of meditation. And Dharma, i. The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious e. , teaching or sutra, masters were versed in the Buddhist texts. Monasteries and practice centers were created that tended to focus on either the vinaya and training of monks or the teachings focused on one scripture or a small group of texts. Dhyana or Chan masters tended to practice in solitary hermitages or to be associated with the Vinaya training monasteries or sutra teaching centers.

After Bodhidharma's arrival in the late fifth century, the subsequent dhyana-chan masters who were associated with his teaching line consolidated around the practice of meditation and the feeling that mere observance of the rules of discipline or the intellectual teachings of the scriptures did not emphasize enough the actual practice and personal experience of the Buddha's meditation that led to the Buddha's awakening. Awakening like the Buddha, and not merely following rules or memorizing texts became the watchword of the dhyana-chan practitioners. Within 200 years after Bodhidharma at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, by the time of the fifth generation Chan ancestor and founder Daman Hongren (601-674), the Zen of Bodhidharma's successors had become well established as a separate school of Buddhism and the true Zen school. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Daman Hongren (Chinese 弘忍 (Wade-GilesShih Hung-jen Japanese Daiman Konin (601 - 674 was the 5th Chan Chán ( Buddhist) Patriarch in the traditional lineage ^[15]

The core of Zen practice is seated meditation, widely known by its Japanese name zazen, and recalls both the posture in which the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, and the elements of mindfulness and concentration which are part of the Eightfold Path as taught by the Buddha. Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of Meditation techniques that develop Mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree ( Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya (Hindi बोधगया is a city in Gaya district in the Mindfulness is concentrated awareness of one's thoughts actions or motivations Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or All of the Buddha's fundamental teachings—among them the Eightfold Path, the Four Noble Truths, the idea of dependent origination, the five precepts, the five aggregates, and the three marks of existence—also make up important elements of the perspective that Zen takes for its practice. Background Why the Buddha is said to have taught in this way is illuminated by the social context of the time in which he lived The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda (Sanskrit paticcasamuppāda; rten In Buddhist phenomenology and Soteriology, the five skandhas ( Sanskrit) or khandhas ( Pāli) are five "aggregates" According to the Buddhist tradition all phenomena other than Nirvana, ( sankhara) are marked by three characteristics sometimes referred to as the Dharma seals While Buddhists generally revere certain places as a Bodhimandala (circle or place of enlightenment) in Zen wherever one sits in true meditation is said to be a Bodhimandala. The term bodhimandala or "bodhimanda" ( Sanskrit for "buddha position" or "buddhahood" in its original meaning is the achievement of enlightenment

Additionally, as a development of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Zen draws many of its basic driving concepts, particularly the bodhisattva ideal, from that school. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta Uniquely Mahāyāna figures such as Guānyīn, Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra, and Amitābha are venerated alongside the historical Buddha. Guanyin (觀音 pinyin guānyīn, Wade-Giles kuan-yin) is the Bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists Manjusri ( Ch: Samantabhadra ( Wylie: Kun-tu bzang-po, Mongolian Qamugha Sain, Chinese 普[[wiktionary 賢|賢]] 菩[[wiktionary 薩|薩]] Pinyin Amitābha ( Sanskrit: अमिताभ Amitābha (wordstem pronunciation; Chinese: 阿彌陀佛 Ēmítuó Fó; Tibetan: འོད་དཔག་མེད་ Despite Zen's emphasis on transmission independent of scriptures, it has drawn heavily on the Mahāyāna sūtras, particularly the Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sūtra, Hredaya Pranyaparamita the Sūtra of the Perfection of Wisdom of the Diamond that Cuts through Illusion, The Vajrachedika Pranyaparamita the Lankavatara Sūtra, and the "Samantamukha Parivarta" section of the Lotus Sūtra. Historicity and Background Place in the Canon Various Mahayana Sutras have been included in the Tibetan Canon and the Chinese Canon. The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra or Heart Sutra or Essence of Wisdom Sutra ( Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिताहृदयसूत्र The Diamond Sutra is a short Mahayana Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom genre which teaches the practice of the avoidance of abiding in extremes The Laṇkāvatāra Sutra ( Chinese: 楞伽經 is a Sutra of Mahayana Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma (Sanskrit sa सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma

Zen has also itself paradoxically produced a rich corpus of written literature which has become a part of its practice and teaching. Among the earliest and most widely studied of the specifically Zen texts, dating back to at least the 9th century CE, is the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, sometimes attributed to Huìnéng. The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch ( Chinese:六祖壇經 fully 南宗頓教最上大乘摩訶般若波羅蜜經六祖惠能大師於韶州大梵寺施法壇經 Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in Others include the various collections of kōans and the Shōbōgenzō of Dōgen Zenji. is the title of two works on Buddhism composed by Dōgen in the mid- 13th century.

Zen training emphasizes daily practice, along with intensive periods of meditation. Practicing with others is considered an important part of Zen practice. D.T. Suzuki wrote that aspects of this life are: a life of humility; a life of labor; a life of service; a life of prayer and gratitude; and a life of meditation. ^[16] The Chinese Chan master Baizhang (720–814 CE) left behind a famous saying which had been the guiding principle of his life, "A day without work is a day without food. Baizhang Huaihai ( Chinese: 百丈懷海 Pinyin: Events By Place Asia The Nihon Shoki (日本書紀 one of the oldest history books in Japan, is completed Events By Place Europe Charlemagne dies in Aachen, aged 67 or 72 (depending on source Louis the Pious "^[17]

Zen meditation

Zazen

Main article: Zazen

As the name Zen implies, Zen sitting meditation is the core of Zen practice and is called zazen in Japanese (坐禅; Chinese tso-chan [Wade-Giles] or zuòchán [Pinyin]). Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice Kodo Sawaki ( Japanese: 沢木興道 Sawaki Kōdō) ( 1880 - 1965) is considered by some to be the most important Japanese Zen is a Japanese term for Zazen introduced by Dogen Zenji and associated most with the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, but which also is "the Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice During zazen, practitioners usually assume a sitting position such as the lotus, half-lotus, Burmese, or seiza postures. The lotus position ( Devanāgarī: पद्मासन IAST: padmāsana; Japanese:) is a cross- Legged Seiza (正座 literally "correct sitting" is the traditional formal way of Sitting in Japan. To regulate the mind, awareness is directed towards counting or watching the breath or put in the energy center below the navel (Chinese dan tian, Japanese tanden or hara). ^[18] Often, a square or round cushion (zafu, 座蒲) placed on a padded mat (zabuton, 座布団) is used to sit on; in some cases, a chair may be used. A zafu (座蒲 in Japanese or 蒲团 in Chinese is a round cushion about 35 cm (14 inches in diameter and often about 20 cm (8 inches high when fluffed A zabuton (座布団 is a Japanese cushion for sitting The Kanji characters 座布団 literally translated are "seat-cloth-sphere" In Japanese Rinzai Zen tradition practitioners typically sit facing the center of the room; while Japanese Soto practitioners traditionally sit facing a wall. The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. Sōtō-shū ( Japanese: 曹洞宗 Cáodòngzōng is one of the two major Sino - Japanese Zen sects (the other being Rinzai)

In Soto Zen, shikantaza meditation ("just-sitting", 只管打坐) that is, a meditation with no objects, anchors, or content, is the primary form of practice. is a Japanese term for Zazen introduced by Dogen Zenji and associated most with the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, but which also is "the The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference. Considerable textual, philosophical, and phenomenological justification of this practice can be found throughout Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō, as for example in the "Principles of Zazen"^[19] and the "Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen". ^[20] Rinzai Zen, instead, emphasizes attention to the breath and koan practice (q. v. ).

The amount of time spent daily in zazen by practitioners varies. Dōgen recommends that five minutes or more daily is beneficial for householders. In English translations of Buddhist literature, householder denotes a variety of terms The key is daily regularity, as Zen teaches that the ego will naturally resist, and the discipline of regularity is essential. Practicing Zen monks may perform four to six periods of zazen during a normal day, with each period lasting 30 to 40 minutes.

Meditation as a practice can be applied to any posture. Walking meditation is called kinhin. Kinhin (経行 Japanese: kinhin or kyōgyō, Chinese: jingxing) in Zen Buddhism, is the walking Meditation Successive periods of zazen are usually interwoven with brief periods of walking meditation to relieve the legs.

Sesshin

Main article: Sesshin

Sesshin (接心, 摂心, 攝心), literally "gathering the mind", is a period of intensive group meditation (zazen) in a Zen monastery. A sesshin (接心 摂心 攝心 literally "gathering the mind" is a period of intensive Meditation ( Zazen) in a Zen monastery. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, during a sesshin they devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice. MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective The numerous 30-50 minute long meditation periods are interleaved with short rest breaks, meals, and sometimes, short periods of work (Japanese: samu) all performed with the same mindfulness; nightly sleep is kept to a minimum, 7 hours or less. Mindfulness is concentrated awareness of one's thoughts actions or motivations During the sesshin period, the intense meditation is occasionally interrupted by the master giving public talks (teisho) and individual direction in private meetings (which may be called dokusan, daisan, or sanzen) with a Zen Master. Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term

In modern Buddhist practice in Japan and the West, sesshins are often attended by lay students, and are typically 1, 3, 5, or 7 days in length. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Seven day sesshins are several times a year at many Zen Centers, especially in commemoration of the Buddha's awakening to annuttara samyak sambodhi. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder At this Rohatsu sesshin, the practitioners typically strive to quiet the mind's chatter to the point of either Stopping thought, samadhi, kensho, or satori. Bodhi Day, traditionally December 8th is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gotama, experienced 'Stopping Thought' is a term in Zen referring to the achievement of the mental state of Samadhi, where the normal mental chatter slows and then stops for brief or longer periods Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or Kenshō (見性 (C Wu) is a Japanese term for enlightenment experiences—most commonly used within the confines of Zen Buddhism. Satori ( 悟 Korean oh; Japanese satori (from the verb Satoru) Chinese: wù

One distinctive aspect of Zen meditation in groups is the use of the keisaku, a flat wooden stick or slat used to keep meditators focused and awake. In Zen Buddhism, the keisaku ( Japanese: 警策 kyôsaku in the Soto school) is a flat wooden stick or slat used during periods

The Zen teacher

Main article: Zen teacher

Because the Zen tradition emphasizes direct communication over scriptural study, the Zen teacher has traditionally played a central role. Hakuin Ekaku (白隠 慧鶴 Hakuin Ekaku, 1686-1769 or 1685-1768 was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism. Generally speaking, a Zen teacher is a person ordained in any tradition of Zen to teach the Dharma, guide students in meditation, and perform rituals. The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious An important concept for all Zen sects is the notion of dharma transmission: the claim of a line of authority that goes back to Śākyamuni Buddha via the teachings of each successive master to each successive student. Dharma transmission ( denbō or denpo in Sōtō and inka in Rinzai and Ōbaku) refers to "the manner in which the teaching This concept relates to the ideas expressed in a description of Zen attributed to Bodhidharma:

A special transmission outside the scriptures; (教外別傳)

No dependence upon words and letters; (不立文字)

Direct pointing to the human mind; (直指人心)

Seeing into one's own nature and attaining Buddhahood. (見性成佛)^[21]

John McRae’s study “Seeing Through Zen” explores this assertion of lineage as a distinctive and central aspect of Zen Buddhism. He writes of this “genealogical” approach so central to Zen’s self-understanding, that while not without precedent, has unique features. It is “relational (involving interaction between individuals rather than being based solely on individual effort), generational (in that it is organized according to parent-child, or rather teacher-student, generations) and reiterative (i. e. , intended for emulation and repetition in the lives of present and future teachers and students. ”

McRae offers a detailed criticism of lineage, but he also notes it is central to Zen, so much so that it is hard to envision any claim to Zen that discards claims of lineage. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Soto, lineage charts become a central part of the Sanmatsu, the documents of Dharma transmission. And it is common for daily chanting in Zen temples and monasteries to include the lineage of the school.

In Japan during the Tokugawa period (1600–1868), some came to question the lineage system and its legitimacy. The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 The Zen master Dokuan Genko (1630–1698), for example, openly questioned the necessity of written acknowledgment from a teacher, which he dismissed as "paper Zen. " Quite a number of teachers in Japan during the Tokugawa period did not adhere to the lineage system; these were termed mushi dokugo (無師獨悟, "independently enlightened without a teacher") or jigo jisho (自悟自証, "self-enlightened and self-certified"). Mushi dokugo, sometimes called jigo jisho, is a Japanese term used in Zen Buddhism which expresses the phenomenon known as "awakening alone without Modern Zen Buddhists also consider questions about the dynamics of the lineage system, inspired in part by academic research into the history of Zen.

Honorific titles associated with teachers typically include, in Chinese, Fashi (法師) or Chanshi (禪師); in Korean, Sunim (an honorofic for a monk or nun) and Seon Sa (선사); in Japanese, Osho (和尚), Roshi (老師), or Sensei (先生); and in Vietnamese, Thầy. ( Chinese: Laoshi, Sanskrit: Rishi) is a Japanese honorific title used in Zen Buddhism that literally means is a Japanese title used to refer to or address teachers professionals such as lawyers and doctors politicians clergymen and other authority figures Note that many of these titles are not specific to Zen but are used generally for Buddhist priests; some, such as sensei are not even specific to Buddhism.

The English term Zen master is often used to refer to important teachers, especially ancient and medieval ones. However, there is no specific criterion by which one may be called a Zen master. The term is less common in reference to modern teachers. In the Open Mind Zen School, English terms have been substituted for the Japanese ones to avoid confusion of this issue. "Assistant Zen Teacher" is a person authorized to begin to teach, but still under the supervision of his teacher. "Zen Teacher" applies to one authorized to teach without further direction, and "Zen Master" refers to one who is a Zen Teacher and has founded his or her own teaching center. .

Koan practice

Main article: Koan

Zen Buddhists may practice koan inquiry during sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation, and throughout all the activities of daily life. Zazen (坐禅 Chinese zuò chán Pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice A koan (literally "public case") is a story or dialogue, generally related to Zen or other Buddhist history; the most typical form is an anecdote involving early Chinese Zen masters. Koan practice is particularly emphasized by the Japanese Rinzai school, but it also occurs in other schools or branches of Zen depending on the teaching line. The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. ^[22]

These anecdotes involving famous Zen teachers are a practical demonstration of their wisdom, and can be used to test a student's progress in Zen practice. Koans often appear to be paradoxical or linguistically meaningless dialogues or questions. A paradox is a true statement or group of statements that leads to a Contradiction or a situation which defies intuition; or inversely But to Zen Buddhists the koan is "the place and the time and the event where truth reveals itself"^[23] unobstructed by the oppositions and differientiations of language. Answering a koan requires a student to let go of conceptual thinking and of the logical way we order the world, so that like creativity in art, the appropriate insight and response arises naturally and spontaneously in the mind.

Koans and their study developed in China within the context of the open questions and answers of teaching sessions conducted by the Chinese Zen masters. Today, the Zen student's mastery of a given koan is presented to the teacher in a private interview (referred to in Japanese as dokusan (独参), daisan (代参), or sanzen (参禅)). Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term Zen teachers advise that the problem posed by a koan is to be taken quite seriously, and to be approached as literally a matter of life and death. While there is no unique answer to a koan, practitioners are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the koan and of Zen through their responses. The teacher may approve or disapprove of the answer and guide the student in the right direction. There are also various commentaries on koans, written by experienced teachers, that can serve as a guide. These commentaries are also of great value to modern scholarship on the subject.

Chanting and liturgy

See also: Buddhist chant

A practice in many Zen monasteries and centers is a daily liturgy service. A Buddhist Chant is a form of musical verse or incantation in some ways analogous to Hindu or Christian religious recitations Practitioners chant major sutras such as the Heart Sutra, chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra (often called the "Avalokiteshvara Sutra"), the Song of the Jewel Mirror Awareness, the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani (Daihishin Dharani), and other minor mantras. The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra or Heart Sutra or Essence of Wisdom Sutra ( Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिताहृदयसूत्र The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma (Sanskrit sa सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāranī sa (नीलकण्ठ धारनी also known as Mahā Karuṇā Dhāranī sa (महा करुणा धारनी popularly known

The Butsudan is the altar in a monastery where offerings are made to the images of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas. A butsudan (佛壇 or 仏壇 is a Shrine found in religious temples and homes of Japanese and other Buddhist cultures In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta The same term is also used in Japanese homes for the altar where one prays to and communicates with deceased family members. As such, reciting liturgy in Zen can be seen as a means to connect with the Bodhisattvas of the past. Liturgy is often used during funerals, memorials, and other special events as means to invoke the aid of supernatural powers.

Chanting usually centers on major Bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara (see also Guan Yin) and Manjusri. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta Avalokiteśvara ( Nepali: अवलोकितेश्वर, lit Guanyin (觀音 pinyin guānyīn, Wade-Giles kuan-yin) is the Bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists Manjusri ( Ch: According to Mahayana Buddhism, Bodhisattvas are celestial beings which have taken extraordinary vows to liberate all beings from Samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth), while remaining in Samsara themselves. Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Since the Zen practitioner’s aim is to walk the Bodhisattva path, chanting can be used as a means to connect with these beings and realize this ideal within oneself. By repeatedly chanting the Avalokiteshvara sutra (観世音菩薩普門品, Kanzeon Bosatsu Fumonbon^?), for example, one instills the Bodhisattva's ideals into ones mind. The ultimate goal is given in the end of the sutra, which states, "In the morning, be one with Avalokiteshvara, In the evening, be one with Avalokiteshvara,", Through the realization of the Emptiness of oneself, and the Mahayanist ideal of Buddha-nature in all things, one understands that there is no difference between the cosmic bodhisattva and oneself. Avalokiteśvara ( Nepali: अवलोकितेश्वर, lit Luminous mind in the Nikayas There is a clear reference in the Anguttara Nikaya to a " Luminous mind " present within all people be they corrupt or pure whether The wisdom and compassion of the Boddhisattva one is chanting to is seen to equal the inner wisdom and compassion of the practitioner. Thus, the duality between subject and object, practitioner and Bodhisattva, chanter and sutra is ended. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta

One modern day Roshi justifies the use of chanting sutras by referring to Zen master Dōgen. ^[24] Dōgen is known to have refuted the statement "Painted rice cakes will not satisfy hunger". This means that sutras, which are just symbols like painted rice cakes, cannot truly satisfy one's spiritual hunger. Dōgen, however, saw that there is no separation between metaphor and reality. "There is no difference between paintings, rice cakes, or any thing at all". ^[25] The symbol and the symbolized were inherently the same, and thus only the sutras could truly satisfy one's spiritual needs.

To understand this non-dual relationship experientially, one is told to practice liturgy intimately. ^[26] In distinguishing between ceremony and liturgy, Dōgen states, "In ceremony there are forms and there are sounds, there is understanding and there is believing. In liturgy there is only intimacy. " The practitioner is instructed to listen to and speak liturgy not just with one sense, but with one's "whole body-and-mind". By listening with one's entire being, one eliminates the space between the self and the liturgy. Thus, Dōgen's instructions are to "listen with the eye and see with the ear". By focusing all of one's being on one specific practice, duality is transcended. Dōgen says, "Let go of the eye, and the whole body-and-mind are nothing but the eye; let go of the ear, and the whole universe is nothing but the ear. " Chanting intimately thus allows one to experience a non-dual reality. The liturgy used is a tool to allow the practitioner to transcend the old conceptions of self and other. In this way, intimate liturgy practice allows one to realize emptiness (sunyata), which is at the heart of Zen Buddhist teachings. Emptiness as a Human condition of generalized Boredom, Social alienation and Apathy.

Other techniques

There are other techniques common in the Zen tradition which seem unconventional and whose purpose is said to be to shock a student in order to help him or her let go of habitual activities of the mind. Some of these are common today, while others are found mostly in anecdotes. These include the loud belly shout known as katsu. Katsu ( Japanese: 喝; Cantonese:, Pinyin: hè, Wade-Giles: ho) is a type of shout that It is common in many Zen traditions today for Zen teachers to have a stick with them during formal ceremonies which is a symbol of authority and which can be also used to strike on the table during a talk. The now defunct Fuke Zen sect was also well-known for practicing suizen, meditation with the shakuhachi, which some Zen Buddhists today also practice. Fuke Zen (普化禪 was a branch of Zen Buddhism which existed in Japan from the 13th century until the late 19th century Suizen (吹禅 is a Zen practice consisting of playing the Shakuhachi Bamboo Flute as a means of attaining self-realization The is a Japanese end-blown Flute. Its name means "18 feet" referring to its size

Chan in China

See also: Buddhism in China

In the centuries following the introduction of Buddhism to China, Chan grew to become the largest sect in Chinese Buddhism and, despite its "transmission beyond the scriptures", produced the largest body of literature in Chinese history of any sect or tradition. Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times The teachers claiming Huineng's posterity began to branch off into numerous different schools, each with their own special emphasis, but all of which kept the same basic focus on meditational practice, personal instruction and personal experience.

During the late Tang and the Song periods, the tradition continued, as a wide number of eminent teachers, such as Mazu (Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Japanese: Baso), Shitou (Shih-t'ou; Japanese: Sekito), Baizhang (Pai-chang; Japanese: Hyakujo), Huangbo (Huang-po; Jap.: Obaku), Linji (Lin-chi; Jap.: Rinzai), and Yunmen (Jap.: Ummon) developed specialized teaching methods, which would variously become characteristic of the five houses (五家) of Chan. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Also "Baso" redirects here For the island see Baso (island. Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Baizhang Huaihai ( Chinese: 百丈懷海 Pinyin: is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Huángbò Xīyùn (simplified Chinese 黄檗希运 traditional 黄檗希運 Wade-Giles Huang-po Hsi-yün Japanese: Ōbaku Kiun) (died 850 was an influential is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Línjì Yìxuán (臨済義玄 Wade-Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866 was the founder of the Linji school is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Yúnmén Wényǎn (862 or 864-949 CE (雲門文偃 Japanese: Ummon Bun'en; he is also variously known in English as "Unmon" "Ummon Daishi" is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities The traditional five houses were Caodong (曹洞宗), Linji (臨濟宗), Guiyang (潙仰宗), Fayan (法眼宗), and Yunmen (雲門宗). Cáodòng (characters 曹洞宗 pinyin cáodòngzōng is a Chinese Zen Buddhist sect founded by Dongshan Liangjie and his Dharma-heirs The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. This list does not include earlier schools such as the Hongzhou (洪州宗) of Mazu.

Over the course of Song Dynasty (960–1279), the Guiyang, Fayan, and Yunmen schools were gradually absorbed into the Linji. Events By Place Europe Edgar the Peaceable is crowned King of England. During the same period, the various developments of Chan teaching methods crystallized into the gong-an (koan) practice which is unique to this school of Buddhism. According to Miura and Sasaki, "it was during the lifetime of Yüan-wu's successor, Ta-hui Tsung-kao 大慧宗杲 (Daie Sōkō, 1089-1163) that Koan Zen entered its determinative stage. Yuanwu Keqin ( 圜悟克勤) (Wade-Giles Yuan Wu K'e Ch'in Japanese Engo Kokugon (1063 - 1135 was the Chinese Chan Buddhist monk who wrote "^[27] Gong-an practice was prevalent in the Linji school, to which Yuanwu and Ta-hui (pinyin: Dahui) belonged, but it was also employed on a more limited basis by the Caodong school. Yuanwu Keqin ( 圜悟克勤) (Wade-Giles Yuan Wu K'e Ch'in Japanese Engo Kokugon (1063 - 1135 was the Chinese Chan Buddhist monk who wrote Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The teaching styles and words of the classical masters were collected in such important texts as the Blue Cliff Record (1125) of Yuanwu, The Gateless Gate (1228) of Wumen, both of the Linji lineage, and the Book of Equanimity (1223) of Wansong, of the Caodong lineage. The Blue Cliff Record ( Chinese: 《碧巖錄》 Bìyán Lù Japanese: Hekiganroku) is a collection of Chán Buddhist The Gateless Gate (無門關 Mandarin. Wumenguan, Japanese. Mumonkan) is a collection of 48 Chan ( Zen) Wumen Huikai ( Wade-Giles: Wu-men Hui-k'ai Japanese: Mumon Ekai (1183-1260 is a Song period Chán (Japanese Zen master most famous as the compiler These texts record classic gong-an cases, together with verse and prose commentaries, which would be studied by later generations of students down to the present.

Chan continued to be influential as a religious force in China, and thrived in the post-Song period; with a vast body of texts being produced up and through the modern period. While traditionally distinct, Chan was taught alongside Pure Land Buddhism in many Chinese Buddhist monasteries. In time much of the distinction between them was lost, and many masters taught both Chan and Pure Land. Chan Buddhism enjoyed something of a revival in the Ming Dynasty with teachers such as Hanshan Deqing (憨山德清), who wrote and taught extensively on both Chan and Pure Land Buddhism; Miyun Yuanwu (密雲圓悟), who came to be seen posthumously as the first patriarch of the Obaku Zen school; as well as Yunqi Zhuhong (雲棲株宏) and Ouyi Zhixu (藕溢智旭).

After further centuries of decline, Chan was revived again in the early 20th century by Hsu Yun, a well-known figure of 20th century Chinese Buddhism. Hsu Yun ( Traditional Chinese: 虛雲大師 Simplified Chinese: 虚云大师 Pinyin: Xū Yún Dà Shī "empty cloud" (1840-1959 was a renowned Many Chan teachers today trace their lineage back to Hsu Yun, including Sheng-yen and Hsuan Hua, who have propagated Chan in the West where it has grown steadily through the 20th and 21st century. Venerable Master Sheng-yen (聖嚴法師 Pinyin: Shèngyán Fǎshī ( 1931 - is one of the more famous living teachers of Chan ( Japanese: Hsuan Hua ( Traditional Chinese: 宣化上人 Hanyu Pinyin: Xuān Huà Shàng Rén, literal meaning "proclaim and transform") (

It was severely repressed in China during the recent modern era with the appearance of the People's Republic, but has more recently been re-asserting itself on the mainland, and has a significant following in Taiwan and Hong Kong as well as among Overseas Chinese. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders ^[28]

Zen in Japan

Japanese Buddhism

Schools Tendai • Shingon Pure Land • Zen Nichiren

Founders Saichō • Kūkai Hōnen • Shinran Dōgen • Eisai • Ingen Nichiren

Sacred Texts Avatamsaka Sutra Lotus Sutra Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Infinite Life Sutra

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The schools of Zen that currently exist in Japan are the Sōtō (曹洞), Rinzai (臨済), and Obaku (黃檗). The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods namely the Nara period (up to 784 the Heian period (794–1185 and the post-Heian period History The Tiantai teaching was first brought to Japan by the Chinese monk Jianzhen (鑑眞 Jp Ganjin in the middle of the 8th century, but Shingon Buddhism (眞言 真言 " true words " is a major school of Japanese Buddhism, and is the other branch of Vajrayana Buddhism Pure Land Buddhism ( Jìngtǔzōng; 浄土教 Jōdokyō; Korean: ko-Hang 정토종 jeongtojong; Vietnamese: 浄土宗 vi The founder Nichiren From the age of 16 until 32 Nichiren studied in numerous temples in Japan especially Mt (767&ndash822 was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school in Japan based around the Chinese Tiantai tradition he was exposed Kūkai (ja 空海 or also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (ja 弘法大師 774&ndash835 CE was a Japanese monk, Scholar Hōnen (法然 1133-1212 is the founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism known as Jōdo Shū. Shinran 親鸞 ( May 21, 1173 – January 16, 1263) was a Japanese Buddhist monk who was born in Hino (now a part of Fushimi, Myōan Eisai (明菴栄西 ( April 20, 1141 – July 5, 1215) was a Japanese Buddhist priest credited with bringing the Ingen Ryuki ( Chinese 隱元隆琦 Yinyuan Longqi) ( Fuqing, Fujian, 1592 - Uji, 1673 was a Chinese Linji Nichiren (日蓮 ( February 16, 1222 &ndash October 13, 1282) born, later, and finally Nichiren, was a Buddhist The Avataṃsaka Sūtra ( Japanese: Kegon Kyō) is one of the most influential Mahayana Sutras of East Asian Buddhism. The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma (Sanskrit sa सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma " Perfection of Wisdom " is a translation of the Sanskrit term prajñā pāramitā ( Devanagari: प्रज्ञा पारमिता The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra or Heart Sutra or Essence of Wisdom Sutra ( Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिताहृदयसूत्र The Infinite Life Sutra, or Larger Pure Land Sutra, a Mahayana Buddhist text is the primary text of Pure Land Buddhism, and Sōtō-shū ( Japanese: 曹洞宗 Cáodòngzōng is one of the two major Sino - Japanese Zen sects (the other being Rinzai) is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Sōtō-shū ( Japanese: 曹洞宗 Cáodòngzōng is one of the two major Sino - Japanese Zen sects (the other being Rinzai) The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. Of these, Sōtō is the largest and Obaku the smallest. Rinzai is itself divided into several subschools based on temple affiliation, including Myoshin-ji, Nanzen-ji, Tenryū-ji, Daitoku-ji, and Tofuku-ji. Myōshin-ji ( 妙心寺) is a temple complex in Kyoto, Japan. or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly Zenrin-ji (禅林寺 is a Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan. —more formally known as —is the head temple of the Tenryū sect of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, located in Susukinobaba-chō Ukyō Ward Kyoto, Japan Daitoku-ji is one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen, founded in 1315 or 1319 by Shuho Myocho and located in is a Buddhist Temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto city led by head abbot Keido Fukushima.

Although the Japanese had known Zen-like practices for centuries (Taoism and Shinto), it was not introduced as a separate school until the 12th century, when Myōan Eisai traveled to China and returned to establish a Linji lineage, which is known in Japan as Rinzai. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Myōan Eisai (明菴栄西 ( April 20, 1141 – July 5, 1215) was a Japanese Buddhist priest credited with bringing the The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. Decades later, Nanpo Jomyo (南浦紹明) also studied Linji teachings in China before founding the Japanese Otokan lineage, the most influential branch of Rinzai. In 1215, Dōgen, a younger contemporary of Eisai's, journeyed to China himself, where he became a disciple of the Caodong master Tiantong Rujing. After his return, Dōgen established the Sōtō school, the Japanese branch of Caodong. Sōtō-shū ( Japanese: 曹洞宗 Cáodòngzōng is one of the two major Sino - Japanese Zen sects (the other being Rinzai) The Obaku lineage was introduced in the 17th century by Ingen, a Chinese monk. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Ingen Ryuki ( Chinese 隱元隆琦 Yinyuan Longqi) ( Fuqing, Fujian, 1592 - Uji, 1673 was a Chinese Linji Ingen had been a member of the Linji school, the Chinese equivalent of Rinzai, which had developed separately from the Japanese branch for hundreds of years. Thus, when Ingen journeyed to Japan following the fall of the Ming Dynasty to the Manchus, his teachings were seen as a separate school. The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in The Obaku school was named for Mount Obaku (Chinese: Huangboshan), which had been Ingen's home in China. Mount Huangbo is a mountain in Fujian province, China. It is famous for its temples including Wanfu Temple (home of Yinyuan

Some contemporary Japanese Zen teachers, such as Daiun Harada and Shunryu Suzuki, have criticized Japanese Zen as being a formalized system of empty rituals in which very few Zen practitioners ever actually attain realization. Daiun Sogaku Harada Roshi ( October 13, 1871 - December 12, 1961) was a Rinzai and Soto Zen monk born Shunryu Suzuki (鈴木 俊隆 Suzuki Shunryū, dharma name Shōgaku Shunryū 祥岳俊隆 ( May 18, 1904 - December 4, 1971 A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions They assert that almost all Japanese temples have become family businesses handed down from father to son, and the Zen priest's function has largely been reduced to officiating at funerals. A funeral is a Ceremony marking a person's Death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of Beliefs and practices used by a Culture to remember

The Japanese Zen establishment—including the Sōtō sect, the major branches of Rinzai, and several renowned teachers— has been criticized for its involvement in Japanese militarism and nationalism during World War II and the preceding period. Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A notable work on this subject was Zen at War (1998) by Brian Victoria, an American-born Sōtō priest. Zen at War is a book written by Brian Daizen Victoria, published in 1998. At the same time, however, one must be aware that this involvement was by no means limited to the Zen school: all orthodox Japanese schools of Buddhism supported the militarist state. What may be most striking, though, as Victoria has argued, is that many Zen masters known for their post-war internationalism and promotion of "world peace" were open nationalists in the inter-war years. ^[29] And some of them, like Haku'un Yasutani, the founder of the Sanbo Kyodan School, even voiced their anti-semitic and nationalistic opinions after World War II. Haku'un Yasutani ( 安谷 白雲, 1885 - 1973 was the first Abbot of the Zen Buddhist lineage of Sanbo Kyodan (or Three Treasures Association Sanbo Kyodan (aka Sanbô-Kyôdan or Harada-Yasutani School; Japanese: 三宝教団 literally "Three Treasures Religious Organization" is World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

This openness has allowed non-Buddhists to practice Zen, especially outside of Asia, and even for the curious phenomenon of an emerging Christian Zen lineage, as well as one or two lines that call themselves "nonsectarian. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth " With no official governing body, it's perhaps impossible to declare any authentic lineage "heretical": which would allow one to argue that there is no "orthodoxy," something that most Asian Zen masters would readily dismiss.

Thiền (Zen) in Vietnam

See also: Buddhism in Vietnam

Thiền Buddhism (禪宗 Thiền Tông) is the Vietnamese name for the school of Zen Buddhism. Buddhism came to Vietnam in the first century CE By the end of the second century Vietnam developed a major Buddhist centre in the region commonly known as the Luy Lâu Vietnamese ( tiếng Việt, or less commonly Việt ngữ) formerly known under French colonization as Annamese ( see Annam) Thien is ultimately derived from Chan Zong 禪宗 (simplified, 禅宗), itself a derivative of the Sanskrit "Dhyāna". Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from

According to traditional accounts of Vietnam, in 580, an Indian monk named Vinitaruci (Vietnamese: Tì-ni-đa-lưu-chi) travelled to Vietnam after completing his studies with Sengcan, the third patriarch of Chinese Zen. Events By Place Europe Ethelbert becomes king of Kent. The Roman Senate sends an embassy to Constantinople India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Vietnamese ( tiếng Việt, or less commonly Việt ngữ) formerly known under French colonization as Annamese ( see Annam) Jianzhi Sengcan (僧璨 (?-606 (Wade-Giles Chien-chih Seng-ts'an Japanese Kanchi Sosan is known as the Third Chinese Patriarch of Chán after Bodhidharma and This, then, would be the first appearance of Vietnamese Zen, or Thien (thiền) Buddhism. The sect that Vinitaruci and his lone Vietnamese disciple founded would become known as the oldest branch of Thien. After a period of obscurity, the Vinitaruci School became one of the most influential Buddhist groups in Vietnam by the 10th century, particularly so under the patriarch Vạn-Hạnh (died 1018). Other early Vietnamese Zen schools included the Vo Ngon Thong (Vô Ngôn Thông), which was associated with the teaching of Mazu, and the Thao Duong (Thảo Đường), which incorporated nianfo chanting techniques; both were founded by Chinese monks. Nianfo ( Chinese: 念[[wikt 佛|佛]] Pinyin: nianfo; Japanese: 念佛 nembutsu; Korean: 염불 yeombul A new school was founded by one of Vietnam's religious kings; this was the Truc Lam (Trúc Lâm) school, which evinced a deep influence from Confucian and Taoist philosophy. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Nevertheless, Truc Lam's prestige waned over the following centuries as Confucianism became dominant in the royal court. In the 17th century, a group of Chinese monks led by Nguyen Thieu (Nguyên Thiều) established a vigorous new school, the Lam Te (Lâm Tế), which is the Vietnamese pronunciation of Linji. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, ( April 5, 1923 &ndash September 29, 2001) was a former General and President of South Vietnam. A more domesticated offshoot of Lam Te, the Lieu Quan (Liễu Quán) school, was founded in the 18th century and has since been the predominant branch of Vietnamese Zen. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system

The most famous practitioner of synchronized Thiền Buddhism in the West is Thích Nhất Hạnh who has authored dozens of books and founded Dharma center Plum Village in France together with his colleague -Bhikkhuni and Zen Master- Chan Khong. Nhat Hanh ( Vietnamese: Nhất Hạnh; tʰǐk ɲɜ̌t hɐ̂ʔɲ (born October 11 1926 in central Vietnam) is an expatriate Plum Village (Làng Mai is a Buddhist Meditation center in the Dordogne, in southern France. Chan Khong ( Chân Không) born in 1938 is an Expatriate Vietnamese Buddhist Nun, peace activist, and has worked

Seon (Zen) in Korea

See also: Buddhism in Korea

Seon was gradually transmitted into Korea during the late Silla period (7th through 9th centuries) as Korean monks of predominantly Hwaeom (華嚴) and Consciousness-only (唯識) background began to travel to China to learn the newly developing tradition. Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Hwaeom is the name of the Korean transmission of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism. In Buddhism, consciousness-only or mind-only ( Sanskrit: vijñapti-mātratā, vijñapti-mātra, citta-mātra; Chinese During his lifetime, Mazu had begun to attract students from Korea; by tradition, the first Korean to study Seon was named Peomnang (法朗). Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Mazu's successors had numerous Korean students, some of whom returned to Korea and established the nine mountain (九山) schools. The nine mountain schools (九山 or gusan) were the initial monasteries of the Korean branch of Buddhism called Seon, founded in This was the beginning of Chan in Korea which is called Seon.

Seon received its most significant impetus and consolidation from the Goryeo monk Jinul (知訥) (1158–1210), who established a reform movement and introduced koan practice to Korea. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Jinul (1158 – 1210 was a Korean monk of the Goryeo period who is considered to be the most influential figure in the formation of Korean Seon Buddhism Jinul established the Songgwangsa (松廣寺) as a new center of pure practice. Songgwangsa is one of the most important Seon Buddhist monasteries in Korea and is considered one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea. It was during the time of Jinul the Jogye Order, a primarily Seon sect, became the predominant form of Korean Buddhism, a status it still holds. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (JOKB Korean: which survives down to the present in basically the same status. Toward the end of the Goryeo and during the Joseon period the Jogye Order would first be combined with the scholarly 教 schools, and then be relegated to lesser influence in ruling class circles by Confucian influenced polity, even as it retained strength outside the cities, among the rural populations and ascetic monks in mountain refuges. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B

Nevertheless, there would be a series of important Seon teachers during the next several centuries, such as Hyegeun (慧勤), Taego (太古), Gihwa (己和) and Hyujeong (休靜), who continued to develop the basic mold of Korean meditational Buddhism established by Jinul. Taego Order or Taegojong (태고종 is the second largest order in the Korean Buddhism. Gihwa, also known as Hamheo Teuktong (1376 - 1433 was a late Goryeo -early Joseon Buddhist monk of the Seon order who was the leading Seon continues to be practiced in Korea today at a number of major monastic centers, as well as being taught at Dongguk University, which has a major of studies in this religion. Dongguk University is a private coeducational university in South Korea. Taego Bou (1301–1382) studied in China with Linji teacher and returned to unite the Nine Mountain Schools. In modern Korea, by far the largest Buddhist denomination is the Jogye Order, which is essentially a Zen sect; the name Jogye is the Korean equivalent of Caoxi (曹溪), another name for Huineng. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (JOKB Korean: Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in

Seon is known for its stress on meditation, monasticism, and asceticism. Many Korean monks have few personal possessions and sometimes cut off all relations with the outside world. Several are near mendicants traveling from temple to temple practicing meditation. The hermit-recluse life is prevalent among monks to whom meditation practice is considered of paramount importance.

Currently, Korean Buddhism is in a state of slow transition. While the reigning theory behind Korean Buddhism was based on Jinul's "sudden enlightenment, gradual cultivation," the modern Korean Seon master, Seongcheol's revival of Hui Neng's "sudden enlightenment, sudden cultivation" has had a strong impact on Korean Buddhism. Jinul (1158 – 1210 was a Korean monk of the Goryeo period who is considered to be the most influential figure in the formation of Korean Seon Buddhism Seongcheol ( April 10, 1912 &ndash November 4, 1993) is the Dharma name of a Korean Seon ( Hangul Dajian Huineng (慧能 or 惠能 Pinyin: Huìnéng 638–713 was a Chinese Chán Monastic who is one of the most important figures in Although there is resistance to change within the ranks of the Jogye order, with the last three Supreme Patriarchs' stance that is in accordance with Seongcheol, there has been a gradual change in the atmosphere of Korean Buddhism. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (JOKB Korean: Seongcheol ( April 10, 1912 &ndash November 4, 1993) is the Dharma name of a Korean Seon ( Hangul

Also, the Kwan Um School of Zen, one of the largest Zen schools in the West, teaches a form of Seon Buddhism. History Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim first arrived in the United States in 1972 where he lived in Providence Rhode Island and worked at a Korean Soeng Hyang Soen Sa Nim (b. Soeng Hyang (Nature Scent Soen Sa Nim (b April 15, 1948) birth name Barbara 1948), birth name Barbara Trexler (later Barbara Rhodes), is Guiding Dharma Teacher of the international Kwan Um School of Zen and successor of the late Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim. Seung Sahn Haeng Won Dae Soen-sa ( Korean: 숭산행원대선사 Hanja: 崇山行願大禪師

Zen in the Western world

See also: Buddhism in the West

Although it is difficult to trace when the West first became aware of Zen as a distinct form of Buddhism, the visit of Soyen Shaku, a Japanese Zen monk, to Chicago during the World Parliament of Religions in 1893 is often pointed to as an event that enhanced its profile in the Western world. Buddhism in the West broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia. Soyen Shaku ( 釈 宗演, 1859 – October 29, 1919, Kamakura, Japan; sometimes written as Soen Shaku or Kogaku So’en For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893 the first attempt to create It was during the late 1950s and the early 1960s that the number of Westerners, other than the descendants of Asian immigrants, pursuing a serious interest in Zen reached a significant level.

Zen and Western culture

In Europe, the Expressionist and Dada movements in art tend to have much in common thematically with the study of koans and actual Zen. Expressionism is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an Emotional effect it is a subjective art form For other meanings see Dada (disambiguation DaDa is a Concept album by Alice Cooper, released The early French surrealist René Daumal translated D.T. Suzuki as well as Sanskrit Buddhist texts. Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early-1920s and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members René Daumal (16 March 1908 - 21 May 1944) was a French writer philosopher and Poet. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

Eugen Herrigel's book Zen in the Art of Archery (1953),^[30] describing his training in the Zen-influenced martial art of Kyūdō, inspired many of the Western world's early Zen practitioners. Eugen Herrigel ( 20 March 1884, near Heidelberg - 1955 was a German Philosopher who taught philosophy at Tohoku Imperial University Zen in the Art of Archery is a short book written by Eugen Herrigel which brought Zen to Europe after World War II. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat. literally meaning " way of the bow " is the Japanese art of Archery. However, many scholars are quick to criticize this book. (eg see Yamada Shoji)^[31]

The British-American philosopher Alan Watts took a close interest in Zen Buddhism and wrote and lectured extensively on it during the 1950s. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Alan Wilson Watts ( January 6, 1915 &ndash November 16, 1973) was a British Philosopher, Writer, speaker and He understood it as a vehicle for a mystical transformation of consciousness, and also as a historical example of a non-Western, non-Christian way of life that had fostered both the practical and fine arts. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Fine art is any Art form developed primarily for Aesthetics rather than Utility.

The Dharma Bums, a novel written by Jack Kerouac and published in 1959, gave its readers a look at how a fascination with Buddhism and Zen was being absorbed into the bohemian lifestyles of a small group of American youths, primarily on the West Coast. This is an article about the novel by Jack Kerouac For the band see Dharma Bums. A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Jack Kerouac ( March 12 1922 &ndash October 21 1969) was an American Novelist, Writer, Poet, and The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Beside the narrator, the main character in this novel was "Japhy Ryder", a thinly-veiled depiction of Gary Snyder. Gary Snyder (born May 8, 1930) is an American Poet (often associated with the Beat Generation The story was based on actual events taking place while Snyder prepared, in California, for the formal Zen studies that he would pursue in Japanese monasteries between 1956 and 1968. ^[32]

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) the Trappist monk and priest^[33] was internationally recognized as having one of those rare Western minds that was entirely at home in Asian experience. Thomas Merton ( 31 January 1915 – 10 December 1968) was one of the most influential Catholic writers of the 20th century Trappist redirects here This article is about the Cistercian order Like his friend, the late D.T. Suzuki, Merton believed that there must be a little of Zen in all authentic creative and spiritual experience. The dialogue between Merton and Suzuki^[34] explores the many congruencies of Christian mysticism and Zen. ^[35][36]

Reginald Horace Blyth (1898-1964) was an Englishman who went to Japan in 1940 to further his study of Zen. Reginald Horace Blyth ( 3 December 1898 - 28 October 1964) was an English author and devotee of Japanese culture He was interned during World War II and started writing in prison. He was tutor to the Crown Prince after the war. His greatest work is the 5-volume "Zen and Zen Classics", published in the 1960s. In it, he discusses Zen themes from a philosophical standpoint, often in conjunction with Christian elements in a comparative spirit. His essays include titles such as "God, Buddha, and Buddhahood" or "Zen Sin, and Death". He is an enthusiast of Zen, but not altogether uncritical of it. His writings can be characterized as unorthodox and quirky.

While Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig, was a 1974 bestseller, it in fact has little to do with Zen as a religious practice. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance An Inquiry into Values is the first of Robert M Robert Maynard Pirsig (born September 6, 1928, Minneapolis Minnesota) is an American Writer and Philosopher, mainly known A bestseller is a Book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade Rather it deals with the notion of the metaphysics of "quality" from the point of view of the main character. The metaphysics of Quality (MOQ is a Theory of Reality introduced in Robert Pirsig 's philosophical Novel, Zen and the Art Pirsig was attending the Minnesota Zen Center at the time of writing the book. Minnesota Zen Meditation Center was formed when the founding head teacher Dainin Katagiri, (1928-1990 was invited to come from California in 1972 to teach He has stated that, despite its title, the book "should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. " Though it may not deal with orthodox Zen Buddhist practice, Pirsig's book in fact deals with many of the more subtle facets of Zen living and Zen mentality without drawing attention to any religion or religious organization.

A number of contemporary authors have explored the relationship between Zen and a number of other disciplines, including parenting, teaching, and leadership. Leadership expert Timothy H. Warneka uses a number of Zen stories, such as "Understanding Harmony" to explain leadership strategies:

Once upon a time in ancient Japan, a young man was studying martial arts under a famous teacher. Every day the young man would practice in a courtyard along with the other students. One day, as the master watched, he could see that the other students were consistently interfering with the young man’s technique. Sensing the student’s frustration, the master approached the student and tapped him on the shoulder. “What is wrong?” inquired the teacher. “I cannot execute my technique and I do not understand why,” replied the student. “This is because you do not understand harmony. Please follow me,” said the master. Leaving the practice hall, the master and student walked a short distance into the woods until they came upon a stream. After standing silently beside the streambed for a few minutes, the master spoke. “Look at the water,” he instructed. “It does not slam into the rocks and stop out of frustration, but instead flows around them and continues down the stream. Become like the water and you will understand harmony. ” Soon, the student learned to move and flow like the stream, and none of the other students could keep him from executing his techniques. ^[37]

Western Zen lineages

Over the last fifty years mainstream forms of Zen, led by teachers who trained in East Asia and their successors, have begun to take root in the West.

In North America, the Zen lineages derived from the Japanese Soto school are the most numerous. Among these are the lineages of the San Francisco Zen Center, established by Shunryu Suzuki and the White Plum Asanga, founded by Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi. San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC aka "Zen Center" or Beginner's Mind Temple, is a network of affiliated Soto Zen practice and retreat Shunryu Suzuki (鈴木 俊隆 Suzuki Shunryū, dharma name Shōgaku Shunryū 祥岳俊隆 ( May 18, 1904 - December 4, 1971 White Plum Asanga, sometimes termed White Plum Sangha, is the lineage of the late Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi, utilizing a synthesis of Soto and Rinzai Hakuyū Taizan Maezumi ( 前角 博雄, February 24, 1931 — May 15, 1995) was a Japanese Zen Roshi Suzuki's San Francisco Zen Center established the first Zen Monastery in America in 1967, called Tassajara in the mountains near Big Sur. Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the central California, United States, coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Maezumi's successors have created schools including Great Plains Zen Center, founded by Susan Myoyu Andersen, Roshi, the Mountains and Rivers Order, founded by John Daido Loori, the Zen Peacemaker Order, founded by Bernard Tetsugen Glassman and the Ordinary Mind school, founded by Charlotte Joko Beck. John Daido Loori Roshi (or just "Daido Roshi " (c 1930 is an artist and first generation American Zen teacher The Ordinary Mind Zen School is a network of independent Zen centers established by Charlotte Joko Beck (now retired and her Dharma Successors in 1995 Charlotte Joko Beck (born 1917 is a Zen teacher in the United States and the author of the books Everyday Zen Love and Work and Nothing Special The Katagiri lineage, founded by Dainin Katagiri, has a significant presence in the Midwest. Jikai Dainin Katagiri ( 片桐 大忍, January 19 1928 — March 1 1990) aka Hojo-san Katagiri, was a Soto Zen Note that both Taizan Maezumi and Dainin Katagiri served as priests at Zenshuji Soto Mission in the 1960s. Zenshuji Soto Mission, established in 1922 in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles California, was the first Soto Zen Buddhist temple in

Taisen Deshimaru, a student of Kodo Sawaki, was a Soto Zen priest from Japan who taught in France. Taisen Deshimaru ( 弟子丸 泰仙, birth name Yasuo Deshimaru (1914 - April 30 1982 was a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist teacher For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The International Zen Association, which he founded, remains influential. The American Zen Association, headquartered at the New Orleans Zen Temple, is one of the North American organizations practicing in the Deshimaru tradition. The New Orleans Zen Temple is a dojo of the Soto Zen tradition in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Soyu Matsuoka, served as superintendent and abbot of the Long Beach Zen Buddhist Temple and Zen Center. Dr Soyu Matsuoka ( 松岡 操雄, 1912—1997 along with Sokei-an and Nyogen Senzaki, was one of the first Zen teachers to make the United The Temple was headquarters to Zen Centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Everett, Washington. He established the Temple at Long Beach in 1971 where he resided until his passing in 1998.

The Sanbo Kyodan is a Japan-based reformist Zen group, founded in 1954 by Yasutani Hakuun, which has had a significant influence on Zen in the West. Sanbo Kyodan (aka Sanbô-Kyôdan or Harada-Yasutani School; Japanese: 三宝教団 literally "Three Treasures Religious Organization" is Sanbo Kyodan Zen is based primarily on the Soto tradition, but also incorporates Rinzai-style koan practice. Yasutani's approach to Zen first became prominent in the English-speaking world through Philip Kapleau's book The Three Pillars of Zen (1965), which was one of the first books to introduce Western audiences to Zen as a practice rather than simply a philosophy. Philip Kapleau (1912 &ndash 2004 was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in the United States and became a teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Among the Zen groups in North America, Hawaii, Europe, and New Zealand which derive from Sanbo Kyodan are those associated with Kapleau—who was never recognized as being a zen master—, Robert Aitken, and John Tarrant. Robert Baker Aitken Roshi (b July 19, 1917) is a Roshi practicing in the Harada-Yasutani lineage living in retirement in O'ahu Hawaii John Tarrant (born 1949) is a Western Zen teacher currently director of the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa California.

In the UK, Throssel Hole Abbey was founded as a sister monastery to Shasta Abbey in California by Master Reverend Jiyu Kennett Roshi and has a number of dispersed Priories and centres. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Jiyu Kennett, an English woman, was ordained as a priest and Zen master in Shoji-ji, one of the two main Soto Zen temples in Japan (her book The Wild White Goose describes her experiences in Japan). The Order is called the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. The lineage of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi is represented by the White Plum Sangha UK, while Taisen Deshimaru Roshi's lineage is known in the UK as IZAUK (Intl Zen Assoc. Hakuyū Taizan Maezumi ( 前角 博雄, February 24, 1931 — May 15, 1995) was a Japanese Zen Roshi Taisen Deshimaru ( 弟子丸 泰仙, birth name Yasuo Deshimaru (1914 - April 30 1982 was a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist teacher UK). The Zen Centre in London is connected to the Buddhist Society. The Zen Centre is a Buddhist Monastery in London, England, and the active arm of the Zen Trust, whose object is to promote the The Buddhist Society is a UK registered charity with the stated aim to publish and make known the principles of Buddhism and to encourage the study The Western Chan Fellowship is an association of lay Chan practitioners based in the UK. They are registered as a charity in England and Wales, but also have contacts in Europe, principally in Norway, Poland, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland and the USA.

There are also a number of Rinzai Zen centers in the West. In North America, some of the more prominent include Rinzai-ji founded by Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi in California, Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji established by Eido Shimano Roshi and Kyudo Nakagawa Roshi in New York, Chozen-ji founded by Omori Sogen Roshi in Hawaii, Daiyuzenji founded by Dogen Hosokawa Roshi (a student of Omori Sogen Roshi) in Chicago, Illinois, and Chobo-Ji founded by Genki Takabayshi Roshi in Seattle, Washington. Kyozan Joshu Sasaki, Roshi (born April 1, 1907) is a Japanese Rinzai Zen teacher who has lived in the United States since Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, or International Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, is a Rinzai monastery and retreat center located in the Catskill Mountains of upstate Eido Tai Shimano ( 嶋野 栄道, born 1932 is a Rinzai Roshi, and the first to establish a Rinzai lineage in the United States. Ōmori Sōgen Rotaishi (1904—1994 was a Japanese Rinzai Roshi, Kendo master and Calligrapher well-known for his Conservatism Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji is a Zen temple in the Rinzai Gigen - Hakuin Ekaku Zenji Dharma Line, located on Capitol Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji is a Zen temple in the Rinzai Gigen - Hakuin Ekaku Zenji Dharma Line, located on Capitol In Europe there is Egely Monastery established by a Dharma Heir of Eido Shimano, Denko Mortensen. Dharma transmission ( denbō or denpo in Sōtō and inka in Rinzai and Ōbaku) refers to "the manner in which the teaching

Not all the successful Zen teachers in the West have been from Japanese traditions. There have also been teachers of Chan, Seon, and Thien Buddhism. In addition, there are a number of Zen teachers who studied in Asian traditions that because of corruption or political issues decided to strike out on their own. One organization of this type is Open Mind Zen in Melbourne, Florida. Melbourne is a city in Brevard County Florida, United States.

The first Chinese master to teach Westerners in North America was Hsuan Hua, who taught Zen, Chinese Pure Land, Tiantai, Vinaya, and Vajrayana Buddhism in San Francisco during the early 1960s. Hsuan Hua ( Traditional Chinese: 宣化上人 Hanyu Pinyin: Xuān Huà Shàng Rén, literal meaning "proclaim and transform") ( Tiantai (天台宗 Wade-Giles: T'ien T'ai) is one of the important sects of Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan, also called The Vinaya (a word in Pāli as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning 'leading out' 'education' 'discipline' is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city He went on to found the City Of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a monastery and retreat center located on a 237 acre (959,000 m²) property near Ukiah, California. The City Of Ten Thousand Buddhas (萬佛聖城 Wànfó Shèngchéng) is an international Buddhist community and monastery founded by the Venerable Master Hsuan Ukiah (pronounced You-kai-uh juːˈkаɪjə is the County seat and largest city of Mendocino County California. Another Chinese Zen teacher with a Western following is Sheng-yen, a master trained in both the Caodong and Linji schools (equivalent to the Japanese Soto and Rinzai, respectively). Venerable Master Sheng-yen (聖嚴法師 Pinyin: Shèngyán Fǎshī ( 1931 - is one of the more famous living teachers of Chan ( Japanese: Cáodòng (characters 曹洞宗 pinyin cáodòngzōng is a Chinese Zen Buddhist sect founded by Dongshan Liangjie and his Dharma-heirs Línjì Yìxuán (臨済義玄 Wade-Giles: Lin-chi I-hsüan; Japanese: Rinzai Gigen) (?–866 was the founder of the Linji school He first visited the United States in 1978 under the sponsorship of the Buddhist Association of the United States, and, in 1980, founded the Chan Meditation Center in Queens, New York. [1].

The most prominent Korean Zen teacher in the West was Seung Sahn. Seung Sahn Haeng Won Dae Soen-sa ( Korean: 숭산행원대선사 Hanja: 崇山行願大禪師 Seung Sahn founded the Providence Zen Center in Providence, Rhode Island; this was to become the headquarters of the Kwan Um School of Zen, a large international network of affiliated Zen centers. Providence Zen Center (PZC is the international headquarters for the Kwan Um School of Zen (KUSZ the first Zen center established by Seung Sahn in the United History Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim first arrived in the United States in 1972 where he lived in Providence Rhode Island and worked at a Korean

Two notable Vietnamese Zen teachers have been influential in Western countries: Thich Thien-An and Thich Nhat Hanh. Dr Thich Thien An (釋天安 (September 1926 - November 1980 was an influential teacher of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism who was active in the United Nhat Hanh ( Vietnamese: Nhất Hạnh; tʰǐk ɲɜ̌t hɐ̂ʔɲ (born October 11 1926 in central Vietnam) is an expatriate Thich Thien-An came to America in 1966 as a visiting professor at UCLA and taught traditional Thien meditation. Dr Thich Thien An (釋天安 (September 1926 - November 1980 was an influential teacher of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism who was active in the United The University of California Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public research university located in Westwood Los Angeles, California, United Thich Nhat Hanh was a monk in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, during which he was a peace activist. Nhat Hanh ( Vietnamese: Nhất Hạnh; tʰǐk ɲɜ̌t hɐ̂ʔɲ (born October 11 1926 in central Vietnam) is an expatriate The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia In response to these activities, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, he left Vietnam in exile and now resides at Plum Village, a monastery in France. The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Martin Luther King Jr ( January 15, 1929 April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, Activist and prominent leader Plum Village (Làng Mai is a Buddhist Meditation center in the Dordogne, in southern France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. He has written more than one hundred books about Buddhism, which have made him one of the very few most prominent Buddhist authors among the general readership in the West. In his books and talks, Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes mindfulness (sati) as the most important practice in daily life. Nhat Hanh ( Vietnamese: Nhất Hạnh; tʰǐk ɲɜ̌t hɐ̂ʔɲ (born October 11 1926 in central Vietnam) is an expatriate Mindfulness is concentrated awareness of one's thoughts actions or motivations

Pan-lineage organizations

In the United States, two pan-lineage organizations have formed in the last few years. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The oldest is the American Zen Teachers Association which sponsors an annual conference. The American Zen Teachers Association was founded in the late 1980s as the Second Generation Zen Teachers Group North American Soto teachers in North America, led by several of the heirs of Taizan Maezumi and Shunryu Suzuki, have also formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. The Soto Zen Buddhist Association was formed in 1996 by American and Japanese Zen teachers in response to a perceived need to draw the various autonomous lineages of the North American

See also

• List of Zen teachers
• Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
• Dialectical monism
• Satori and Kensho

Zen authors

Traditional

• Linji (Rinzai)
• Dōgen
• Hsu Yun
• Huineng

Modern

• Robert Aitken
• Charlotte Joko Beck
• Thich Thien-An
• Dogo Barry Graham
• Thich Nhat Hanh
• Philip Kapleau
• John Daido Loori
• Dennis Genpo Merzel
• Seung Sahn
• D. T. Suzuki
• Shunryu Suzuki
• Eido Tai Shimano
• John Tarrant

• Brad Warner
• Alan Watts
• Osho

References

External links

• Zen Guide
• The Zen Site
• Booklets - Hsing Yün
• Zen Centers at the Open Directory Project
• Zen Buddhism WWW Virtual Library
• Sacred-text.com's collection of Zen texts
• Buddhanet's collection of Zen texts
• The International Research Institute for Zen Buddhism
• Joint Council for Rinzai and Obaku Zen
• Website on Soto Zen
• Shambhala Sun Zen Articles
• A Study on the Origin of Chan Buddhism
• Jade Mountains Blog of Soto Zen Master, and Dharma Heir of the late Rev. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory Master Jiyu-Kennet, Rev. Mugo White
• About Zen's planet

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