Zen

<p ><b>Zen</b> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_characters" title="Traditional Chinese characters" >Chinese</a>: 禪; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin" title="Pinyin" >pinyin</a>: <i>Chán</i>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Chinese" title="Middle Chinese" >Middle Chinese</a>: <i>dʑjen</i>) is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schools_of_Buddhism" title="Schools of Buddhism" >school</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana" title="Mahayana" >Mahayana</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism" >Buddhism</a><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-2" >[note 1]</a></sup> that originated in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" title="China" >China</a> during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynasty" title="Tang dynasty" >Tang dynasty</a> as<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chan_Buddhism" title="Chan Buddhism" >Chán</a>. It was strongly influenced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism" title="Taoism" >Taoism</a>, and developed as a distinguished <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Buddhism" title="Chinese Buddhism" >Chinese style of Buddhism</a>. From China, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A1n" title="Chán" class="mw-redirect" >Chán</a> spread south to<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam" >Vietnam</a>, northeast to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea" title="Korea" >Korea</a> and east to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan" >Japan</a>, where it became known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Zen" title="Japanese Zen" >Japanese Zen</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarvey1995159.E2.80.93169_3-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarvey1995159.E2.80.93169-3" >[2]</a></sup>

Zen emphasizes rigorous meditation-practice, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism" title="Enlightenment in Buddhism" >insight</a> into <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature" title="Buddha-nature" >Buddha-nature</a>, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva" title="Bodhisattva" >the benefit of others</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEYoshizawa201041_4-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEYoshizawa201041-4" >[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTESekida1989_5-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTESekida1989-5" >[4]</a></sup> As such, it de-emphasizes mere knowledge of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutra" title="Sutra" >sutras</a> and doctrine<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPoceskiYear_unknown_6-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPoceskiYear_unknown-6" >[5]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBorup20088_7-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBorup20088-7" >[6]</a></sup> and favors direct understanding through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen" title="Zazen" >zazen</a> and interaction with an accomplished teacher.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEYampolski2003a3_8-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEYampolski2003a3-8" >[7]</a></sup>

The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahāyāna thought, especially <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yog%C4%81c%C4%81ra" title="Yogācāra" class="mw-redirect" >Yogācāra</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tath%C4%81gatagarbha_Sutras" title="Tathāgatagarbha Sutras" class="mw-redirect" >Tathāgatagarbha Sutras</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayan_school" title="Huayan school" >Huayan</a>, with their emphasis on Buddha-nature, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_truths_doctrine" title="Two truths doctrine" >totality</a>, and the Bodhisattva-ideal.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005a48_9-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005a48-9" >[8]</a></sup>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajnaparamita" title="Prajnaparamita" >Prajñāpāramitā</a> literature<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005a41.E2.80.9345_11-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005a41.E2.80.9345-11" >[10]</a></sup> and, to a lesser extent, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyamaka" title="Madhyamaka" >Madhyamaka</a> have also been influential in the shaping of the "paradoxical language" of the Zen-tradition.

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<h2 >Etymology[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Etymology" >edit</a>]</h2>

<p >The word <i>Zen</i> is derived from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language" title="Japanese language" >Japanese</a> pronunciation of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Chinese" title="Middle Chinese" >Middle Chinese</a> word 禪 (dʑjen) (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin" title="Pinyin" >pinyin</a>: <i>Chán</i>), which in turn is derived from the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit" >Sanskrit</a> word <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism" title="Dhyāna in Buddhism" >dhyāna</a></i>( ध्यान ),<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005axvii_1-1" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005axvii-1" >[1]</a></sup> which can be approximately translated as "absorption" or "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation" title="Buddhist meditation" >meditative state</a>".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKasulis200324_12-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKasulis200324-12" >[11]</a></sup></p>

<h2 >Zen practice[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Zen practice" >edit</a>]</h2>

<h3 >Dhyana - Zen meditation[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Dhyana - Zen meditation" >edit</a>]</h3>

<div class="hatnote" >See also: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism" title="Dhyāna in Buddhism" >Dhyāna in Buddhism</a></div>

<p >Central to Zen is the practice of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism" title="Dhyāna in Buddhism" >dhyana</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation" title="Buddhist meditation" >meditation</a>.</p>

<h4 >Observing the breath[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Observing the breath" >edit</a>]</h4>

Venerable Hsuan Hua meditating in the Lotus Position. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong" title="Hong Kong" >Hong Kong</a>, 1953.</div>

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<p >During sitting meditation, practitioners usually assume a position such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_position" title="Lotus position" >lotus position</a>, half-lotus, Burmese, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiza" title="Seiza" >seiza</a> postures, using the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra#Dhy.C4.81na_Mudr.C4.81" title="Mudra" >dhyāna</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra" title="Mudra" >mudrā</a>. To regulate the mind, awareness is directed towards counting or watching the breath or by bringing that awareness to the energy center below the navel (see also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati" title="Anapanasati" >anapanasati</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-shengyen_13-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-shengyen-13" >[web 1]</a></sup> Often, a square or round cushion placed on a padded mat is used to sit on; in some other cases, a chair may be used. This practice may simply be called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism" title="Dhyāna in Buddhism" >sitting dhyāna</a>, which is <i>zuòchán</i> (坐禅) in Chinese, and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen" title="Zazen" >zazen</a></i> (坐禅) in Japanese.</p>

<h4 >Observing the mind[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Observing the mind" >edit</a>]</h4>

<p >In the Soto school of Zen, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content, is the primary form of practice. The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference. Considerable textual, philosophical, and phenomenological justification of this practice can be found throughout <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dgen" title="Dōgen" >Dōgen</a>'s <i>Shōbōgenzō</i>, as for example in the "Principles of Zazen"<sup id="cite_ref-zazengi_14-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-zazengi-14" >[web 2]</a></sup> and the "Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen".<sup id="cite_ref-fukanzazengi_15-0" class="reference" ><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#cite_note-fukanzazengi-15" >[web 3]</a></sup> In the Japanese language, this practice is called <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikantaza" title="Shikantaza" >Shikantaza</a></i>.</p>

<h4 >Intensive group meditation[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zen&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Intensive group meditation" >edit</a>]</h4>

<p >Intensive group meditation may be practiced occasionally in some temples. In the Japanese language, this practice is called <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesshin" title="Sesshin" >Sesshin</a></i>. While the daily routine may require monks to meditate for several hours each day, during the intensive period they devote themselves almost exclusively to the practice of sitting meditation. The numerous 30–50 minute long meditation periods are interwoven with rest breaks, meals, and short periods of work that are performed with the same <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness_(Buddhism)" title="Mindfulness (Buddhism)" class="mw-redirect" >mindfulness</a>; nightly sleep is kept to seven hours or less. In modern Buddhist practice in Japan, Taiwan, and the West, lay students often attend these intensive practice sessions, which are typically 1, 3, 5, or 7 days in length. These are held at many Zen centers, especially in commemoration of the Buddha's attainment of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuttar%C4%81_samyaksa%E1%B9%83bodhi" title="Anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi" class="mw-redirect" >Anuttarā Samyaksaṃbodhi</a></i>. One distinctive aspect of Zen meditation in groups is the use of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keisaku" title="Keisaku" >kyosaku</a>, a flat, wooden slat used to strike meditators with the intention of keeping them focused and awake.

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Zen

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