Soto School of Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism Definition

• Zen Buddhism is a form of meditation that focuses on natural intuition, allowing individuals to understand their religion fully through direct experience.
• It has the ability to permeate into other religions, making it a sought-after practice for Christians and members of other religions.

Origins of Zen Buddhism

• Zen Buddhism began with the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha in the 5th century BCE.
• The practice developed in India for over a thousand years before being brought to China by a visiting monk.
• In China, Mahayana Buddhism was influenced by Taoist thought, emphasizing the inherent duality in all things.
• The Mahayana teachings spread throughout China during the Tang dynasty's golden age, focusing on meditation practice, work, and language.

Zen in Japan

• Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 12th century by the monk Eisai, who traveled to China and studied at the Linzai school.
• Eisai developed his own school in Japan, incorporating the key Buddhist beliefs: existence is suffering, suffering has a cause, and the true cessation of suffering is Nirvana.
• Zen Buddhism in Japan was influenced by Taoism and Confucianism, emphasizing the importance of personal ethics and morality.

Rinzai School

• The Rinzai school was founded by Eisai in Japan, emphasizing abrupt awakenings and transcendence.
• Common practices include shouts (mantras) or blows delivered by the master, question and answer sessions, and meditations upon paradoxical questions.
• Members of the Rinzai school create Juzu necklaces, used for mindful and purposeful counting.

Soto School

• The Soto school was founded by Dogen in Japan, emphasizing the spiritual and the idea that everyone is a Buddha and can be awakened.
• Soto is also known as "farmer Zen" due to its focus on slow progression and traditional Indian and Chinese meditative practices.
• The Soto Zen crest is a gentian flower.

Zen Buddhism Beliefs

• The goal of Zen Buddhism is to attain enlightenment and achieve Nirvana, where one no longer experiences suffering.
• Zen teaches that every one thing is connected in a universal balance, and there is no true self, only an illusion.
• Koans are used to convey the paradoxical nature of existence, prompting individuals to see past the ego-consciousness and understand the world on a more experiential basis.

Koans

• Koans are repeated phrases used to enlighten the individual, conveying the paradoxical nature of existence.
• The Rinzai school uses koans extensively, requiring disciples to be familiar with up to 1700 koans.
• Examples of koans include "if you see the Buddha, kill him" and "what do you call the world?"