Zen (ch'an)

Zen Buddhism  Candidates should be able to demonstrate 

knowledge and understanding of:  

• aims, practices, attitudes of Zen Buddhism to scripture; 

• differences between Rinzai and Soto schools. 

Candidates should be able to discuss these 

areas critically

• Translates to Dhyama (meditation) - purifying the mind
• Expresses the need to understand Projna

• 'A direct transmission of awakened consciousness outside tradition and outside scripture'

This is the idea that enlightenment can be transferred from Mind to mind, for example, From teacher to pupil

• An example of this would be Buddha causing enlightenment through the twirling of a flower. This is known as Satori or Wu.

• Cush described it as a form of Mahayana expressed in far Eastern terms
• It requires severe discipline which is believed to eventually develop into second nature. They believe this is better captured in art than words.
• They believe enlightenment can happen instantly, rather than gradually.

The History of Zen

•   Kasyapa(twirling of the flower). The buddha caused a Satori in one of his pupils
• This caused the belief that masters could pass satori onto there pupls
• in 520BCE, Indian mater Bodhidharma began Ch'an in China
• Bodhidharma was a legendary figure. He was believed to have meditated agaisnt a wall until his legs fell off
• Xen became increasingly popular in Japan in the 12th Century

Main Teachings

•  Shunyatta through satori/wu - Higher state of consciousness
• Tatagatagarbha - Buddha nature dwells inside us
• Draws behaviour directly from Buddha nature
• Upaya Kausalya - Skillful Means
• Only truth can be transferred from mind to mind

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Soto and Rinzai

• Ch'an survived perscution of BUddhism in China because it did not depend on monastries 
• Additionally, it did not need wealth to support its survival
• Ch'an split into two Schools - Soto and Rinzai 

Truth can not be put into words; Therefore it must be transferred via the mind

1. Only an enlightened person know how to arrange for another to see reality. Pupils must submit to the Roshi (master) especially in Rinzai Zen. However, in Soto Zen, It's more of a faithe.
2. Rinzai Zen: Pupils are asked to explain a koan to see the concepts we impose upon reality. This is the idea, What was 'makes sense' is only what we have imposed upon it.
3. Soto zen places emphasis on Zazen or Kinhin (walking meditation) however it claims it does not reject the material worl.
4. Zen has strict monastic discipline. Monks are turned away at first to test there commitment to joining. This is ebcause if they are really set on becoming a monk, They will continue to try even though thwy are constantly being turned away.
5. Practising art- Calligraphy, poetry, music, paintnig and gardening are all accepted as types of meditation as well as martial arts. They believe that it teaches self control

1. that it teaches self control