Zen Buddhism

A Zen Buddhism is a Buddhism school that emphasizes Dhyana (Meditation) for achieving Self-Realization and Enlightenment.

• Context:
  • It can trace its origins to the Mahayana Buddhism in China, where it developed as Chán Buddhism.
  • It can be characterized by its focus on Meditation Practice over theoretical knowledge.
  • It can have a significant influence in East Asian Culture and Philosophy.
  • It can be known for its use of Koans (paradoxical anecdotes or riddles) to provoke enlightenment.
  • It can be divided into various schools, such as Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen.
  • It can be associated with practices like Zazen (sitting meditation) and Shikantaza (just sitting).
  • It can emphasize the concept of Mindfulness in everyday activities.
  • It can influence various Art Forms, including gardening, Tea Ceremony, Calligraphy, and Martial Arts.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • The teachings of Dogen Zenji, founder of the Soto Zen school.
  • The Rinzai Zen school's emphasis on Koan practice.
  • The practice of Zazen in a Zen Monastery.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • A Theravada Buddhism school, which emphasizes the earliest teachings of the Buddha and the Pali Canon.
  • Vajrayana Buddhism, known for its complex rituals and tantra practices.
  • A Secular Mindfulness Program, which may use mindfulness techniques devoid of religious or spiritual context.
• See: Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Dhyana, Enlightenment in Buddhism, Dhyāna in Buddhism, East Asian Buddhism, Mahayana, Tang Dynasty, Chan Buddhism, Buddha-Nature, Alan Watts (1915-1973).

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References

2023

• (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen Retrieved:2023-11-17.
  • Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty as the Chan School (Chánzong 禪宗, "meditation school") or the Buddha-mind school (foxin zong),"and later developed into various sub-schools and branches. From China, Chán spread south to Vietnam and became Vietnamese Thiền, northeast to Korea to become Seon Buddhism, and east to Japan, becoming Japanese ZenThe term Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (chán), an abbreviation of 禪那 (chánnà), which is a Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit word ध्यान dhyāna ("meditation").Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice and insight (見性, Ch. jiànxìng, Jp. kensho), "perceiving the true nature" of oneself as Buddha-mind (bodhicitta and Buddha-nature), and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others.As such, it de-emphasizes knowledge alone of sutras and doctrine,and favors direct understanding through spiritual practice and interaction with an accomplished teacheror Master.

    Zen teaching draws from numerous sources of Sarvastivada meditation practice and Mahāyāna thought, especially Yogachara, the Tathāgatagarbha sūtras, the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, and the Huayan school, with their emphasis on Buddha-nature, totality, and the Bodhisattva-ideal.The Prajñāpāramitā literature,as well as Madhyamaka thought, have also been influential in the shaping of the apophatic and sometimes iconoclastic nature of Zen rhetoric.

    Furthermore, the Chan School was also influenced by Taoist philosophy, especially Neo-Daoist thought.

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