University:
MacEwan University
Course:
HIST 476 | Topics in the History of Religion
Academic year:

2024
Views:

417

Pages:

3
Author:

Arthur M.

3/22 - Zen Buddhism (Japanese Region) Review Pure Land Buddhism goal = rebirth in Pure Land w/ Amitabha Buddha recitation is VERY important focus on "tanki" = "other power" (grace from Amitabha Buddha) Zen Buddhism Zen meditation (in Japanese) Stems from Mahayana especially Emptiness & Buddha-Nature (although they slightly contradict one another) "We are already awakened" History of Zen Insider believed to originate from India outsider scholars believe diff (came later) Bodhidharma = teacher sat in a cave & faced a wall meditating for years Zen Buddhism contains a lot of confusing anecdotes Flower Sermon "Zen is a 'special transmission, outside of scripture, not dependent on words'" Flower Sermon Buddha picked up a flower in front of his students only one student understood transmission between master & disciple meditation *Zen = hard & grueling *"flashes" of enlightenment (world appears diff) = satori experiences "deepen" enlightenment --> FULL enlightenment Meditation Our news of the would need radical change get rid of all dualistic thinking ("I", "me") Soto School shikantaza SITTING get rid of all rational thinking Rinzai School koan Puzzle to turn over in mind eventually can see a glimpse of enlightenment you're supposed to back down all rational thinking until it's impossible & FLASH, you'll realize the answer then, get another koan & continue process Ex: "what did your face look like before you were born?" Ex: Mu= non-existence --> Do all beings have Buddha-Nature? NO teaches EMPTINESS Ex: what is the sound of one hand clapping? Hakuin Insists on master-disciple relation helps you stray from deception & pride dharma battle --> master testing disciple NOT through scripture Pure Land vs Zen Other-power (tanki) * self-power (jinki) Goal: rebirth in Amitabha's * Goal: satori (enlightenment) Pure Land In this life Method: nembutsu * Method: meditation (koans, shikantaza)