Religion paper

ZEN TERMS

Zen is one school of Japanese Buddhism that, though fully embraced by only a few, has influenced Japanese culture significantly—and American culture as well among poets (e.g., Alan Ginsburg), artists and intellectuals.

1. ZEN derives from Chinese Ch’an, and goes back to Sanskrit (Indian/Hindu) dhyana: the meditation that leads to insight.

2. ZAZEN: seated meditation.

3. KOAN: a riddle or puzzle that a Zen monk must ponder for insight:

“Ride your horse along the edge of the sword

Hide yourself in the middle of the flames

Blossoms of the fruit tree will bloom in the fire

The sun rises in the evening

4. SANZEN: consultation with one’s master.

5. SATORI: a flash of insight/understanding/enlightenment; the table of contents of Nirvana; a beginning not an ending.

6. THE HOPED-FOR, IDEAL RESULTS OF ZEN:

a. An experience of the goodness and wonder of life

b. Oneness with others and concern for their welfare

c. “Divine ordinariness”—seeing things as they really are/awareness; doing all actions with harmony (e.g. the tea ceremony)

d.

e. Total agreeableness to all situations: joy-sorrow, pleasure-pain, success-failure, because the Zen practitioner has transcended these opposites.