Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider...

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Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson

Transcript of Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider...

Page 1: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen Buddhism

By: Willis Jackson

Page 2: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

A brief history of Zen Buddhism

● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism, it actually originated in China.

● The Chinese called the tradition, “Ch'an,” and “Zen” is Japanese reading of the same word.

● The Chinese rendition of “Zen” was promulgated by an Indian sage named “Bodhidharma.”

Page 3: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Historical Zen, continued.

● Bodhidharma is considered the first practitioner of Zen.

● Bodhidharma was influenced by Taoism, and married some of its teachings with those of Buddhism.

Page 4: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Buddhism comes to Japan

● Buddhism itself first came to Japan from Korea in the 6th Century AD.

● Prince Shotoku, felt that by embracing Buddhism, Japan would become a more refined country with proper principles.

● Under Prince Shotoku, Buddhism became the national religious tradition of Japan.

● Indeed, many new schools of Buddhism arose in Japan over time.

Page 5: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Buddhism's effect on Japan

● Buddhism has played a key role in Japan's political as well as social affairs.

● Many aspects, such as marriage, adulthood, and funeral services were orchestrated according to Buddhist principles.

Page 6: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

More of Buddhism's effect

● Shinto is the indigenous religious tradition of Japan.

● However, as Shinto does not have a founder, it has no strict guidelines about life after death.

● Buddhism provided a guideline for daily Japanese living, including saying grace at meals and daily greetings.

● Annual Buddhist festivals have also been created, and are celebrated throughout Japan.

Page 7: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen comes to Japan

● In the year 1191 AD, Zen came to Japan from China.

● Though he was not the first overall teacher, Eihei Dogen established a firm foothold for Zen Buddhism in Japan.

Page 8: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen's teachings

● Zen is a school of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

● Zen places heavy emphasis on the cultivation of wisdom through meditation, awareness, and self-mastery.

● As with other schools of Buddhism, Zen teaches compassion and enlightenment.

● Zen centers around the concept of “emptiness.”

● “Emptiness” is similar to the Buddhist concept of “Nirvana,” but is mostly understood as the realization of one's true nature.

● “Emptiness” also conceptualizes that things and events exist for a reason.

Page 9: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen Practices

● The name “Zen” refers to sitting meditation as a means to ultimate realization.

● “Zazen” is the practice of deep meditation within the tradition.

● Beginners are taught to focus entirely on one's breath during this ritual.

● The purpose of Zazen is to see one's true self.

Page 10: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

“Emptiness”

● “Emptiness” in Zen Buddhism, loosely means the “realization of one's true nature.”

● One's 'true nature' is that of Buddha nature, according to Zen.

● This realization must be accomplished through meditation and discipline.

● Only through this realization and the cultivation of wisdom, can one achieve enlightenment.

Page 11: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Two Schools of Zen

● Before Dogen founded “Soto” Zen Buddhism, Eisai founded “Rinzai” Zen Buddhism.

● The philosophies of both schools differ in terms of practice.

● “Soto” Zen places emphasis on meditation, living peacefully, and cultivating wisdom.

● “Rinzai” Zen focuses on meditation as well, but also on “Koan” study.

● “Rinzai” is older than “Soto,” having been established in Japan earlier.

Page 12: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen Monastery life

● As with other Buddhist schools, Zen also has temples and monks who live in them.

● Any willing person can become a Zen monk, regardless of gender or background.

● “Temple-stays” are when people live in a temple for a week or a month, to experience the lifestyle.

● The daily life of the monk is dictated by the scriptures and Buddhist principles.

Page 13: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Daily life of a Zen monk.

● Zen monks prefer to live simple lives.

● The typical day in the life of a Zen monk consists of cleaning, studying the texts, and meditating.

● The Zen Monk is taught to rise above one's negative emotions, even during otherwise mundane chores.

Page 14: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Monk living (contd)

● Buddhism teaches the concept of non-attachment.

● As such, a Zen monk must shave his or her hair and wear robes while living on the temple grounds.

● The chores done by the monks are tough, but the monks are encouraged to find the meditative quality of doing these chores.

● Monks keep verbal communication to a minimum, and it must be low in volume.

Page 15: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen meals

● Dogen emphasized the importance of non-killing in Buddhism.

● Zen meals are vegetarian, making use of mushrooms, spinach, rice, and other vegetables.

● Nothing is wasted.

Page 16: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Meditation

● Meditation is highly stressed in Zen Buddhist tradition.

● Whether a layperson or a monk, everyone is encouraged to meditate.

● One's posture must be correct in order to meditate properly.

Page 17: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen as an everyday lifestyle

● From its surface, Zen is depicted to be very rigid and demanding as a tradition.

● To the contrary, anyone can practice Zen anywhere, regardless of socio-economic or national/ethnic background.

● Zen's ultimate purpose is to improve the lives of all who practice it.

● One can practice Zen by changing their personal habits, meditating, living life simply.

Page 18: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen comes to the West

● After World War II, the west began to embrace Zen Buddhism as well.

● For this, Zen has had a great new following outside of Japan and China.

● “Zen” is often misused as a means of describing atmosphere, or fashion statements.

● Many Japanese restaurants will misuse “Zen” as a way of seeming more authentic.

● These restaurants typically have nothing to do with the philosophy of Zen, and often serve meat in spite of Dogen's position against the consumption of meat.

Page 19: Zen Buddhism By: Willis Jackson. A brief history of Zen Buddhism ● Although many people consider Zen to be an exclusively Japanese school of Buddhism,

Zen goes to other places

● Zen philosophy has extended to other parts of the world as well, and continues today.

● Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh founded the Plum Village Monastery in France, in 1982.

● Through his actions, Zen's teachings have been able to reach farther.