Zen: Difference between revisions

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'''Zen''' is a school of [[Mahayana|Mahāyāna]] [[Buddhism]] notable for its emphasis on the attainment of [[Bodhi|awakening]]. As such, it de-emphasizes both [[Theory|theoretical]] [[knowledge]] and the study of [[religious text]]s in favor of direct individual experience of one's own [[Buddha-nature|true nature]].  
'''Zen''' is a school of Mahayana Buddhism originating from the enlightenment-experience of sakamuni. Zen masters claims that conceptual knowledge, including religious texts, will not lead to a direct experience of one's own true nature. D.T. Suzuki writes that Zen is universal, "being life itself"  Suzuki writes:
When I say that Zen if life, I mean that zen is not to be confined within conceptualization, that Zen is what makes concprualization possible, and therefore that Zen is not to be identified with any particular brand of  "ism."


The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in [[China]] in the [[7th century]] [[Common Era|CE]]. It is thought to have developed as an amalgam of various currents in Mahāyāna Buddhist thought—among them the [[Yogacara|Yogācāra]] and [[Madhyamaka]] philosophies and the ''[[Perfection of Wisdom|Prajñāpāramitā]]'' literature—and of local traditions in China, particularly [[Taoism|Daoism]] and [[Huayan|Huáyán Buddhism]]. From China, Zen subsequently spread southwards to [[Vietnam]] and eastwards to [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]. In the late [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century|20th centuries]],  Zen also began to establish a notable presence in [[North America]] and [[Europe]].


As an Eastern philosophy, Zen is not a philosophy in the traditional Western sense where mere intellectual knowledge is the goal. Zen teachers frequently employ the [[koan]], a kind of question which admits of no immediate rational answer -- as a teaching tool.
As an Eastern philosophy, Zen is not a philosophy in the traditional Western sense where only intellectual knowledge is the goal. Zen teachers frequently employ the [[koan]], a kind of question which admits of no immediate rational answer -- as a teaching tool.


The koan is not something that is figured out. For example one koan states "The sound of one hand clapping." While this may sound paradoxical, it is very simple once the point is grasped.  
The koan is not something that can be analyized. For example one koan states "The sound of one hand clapping." While this may sound paradoxical to a reational mind, it is very obvious once the point is grasped.  


Zen is not something to be studied. For example one koan goes like this - "Do not mistake the pointing finger for the moon." Thus Zen does not ask that pointing fingers be studied.  
Zen is not something to be studied. For example one koan goes like this - "Do not mistake the pointing finger for the moon." Thus Zen does not ask that pointing fingers be studied.  

Revision as of 15:46, 7 July 2007

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism originating from the enlightenment-experience of sakamuni. Zen masters claims that conceptual knowledge, including religious texts, will not lead to a direct experience of one's own true nature. D.T. Suzuki writes that Zen is universal, "being life itself" Suzuki writes: When I say that Zen if life, I mean that zen is not to be confined within conceptualization, that Zen is what makes concprualization possible, and therefore that Zen is not to be identified with any particular brand of "ism."


As an Eastern philosophy, Zen is not a philosophy in the traditional Western sense where only intellectual knowledge is the goal. Zen teachers frequently employ the koan, a kind of question which admits of no immediate rational answer -- as a teaching tool.

The koan is not something that can be analyized. For example one koan states "The sound of one hand clapping." While this may sound paradoxical to a reational mind, it is very obvious once the point is grasped.

Zen is not something to be studied. For example one koan goes like this - "Do not mistake the pointing finger for the moon." Thus Zen does not ask that pointing fingers be studied.

If the two koans are used together, then it comes out as do not mistake the pointing finger for the moon, instead study the sound of one hand clapping.

When one becomes proficient at that, then reality presents itself without the conceptual chatter of the mind. [1]

External links

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