What is Zen? How is Za-Zen practiced?I
think many tourists have learned of the words.
Zen signifies a kind of Buddhist thinking, and Za-Zen is a means of realizing the thoughts. The two terms may be confused, but that doesn't matter much.
What you imagine from them might be a Japanese mysticism as a method of mental training similar to Yoga in India.
Being much simpler than Yoga, Za-Zen is common among us in having an oppotunity to see inside of ourselves. It really gives us a sort of self-salvation, and is never hypnotic suggestion or a tricky magic.
Many parents have their boys and girls practice it for several days during their summer holidays, and some athletes often take the method to keep mental stability when in bad shape.
Zen sect of Buddhism, originated in China in the 6th century, has developed in Japan since the 13th century, when Samurai or warrior class took the rule of the country. Za-Zen has been the most important means for monks of the sect to attain enlightenment, the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Nowadays many Zen temples are open to people who want to try the unique way of meditation, where you silently sit on the flour in a distinctive style. All you prepare for the lesson is only easy cloths for you, but geans are no-no.
In the course for beginners,
a senior monk instructs some manners of the practice, walks slowly around the trainees during the meditation lasting about 40 munites,
and taps them on the shoulder with the ritual slender plate when they sway their backs and/or heads without keeping minds relaxed and still.
I spent such a calm and tranquil hour at a temple when I was young.
I clearly remember that I was much impressed with peaceful mind after the deep meditation. That wasn't described in words, a completely different state of mind from daily life.
To those interested in the oriental way of thinking,
I recommend to read the following books, which was written in English in 1930s by D. T. Suzuki, who was a professor of Kyoto university and had made lectures on Zen in London, NewYork and other cities abroad.
According to him, Zen is not a philosophy of metaphysics, and nor is a religion as it is understood by a common meaning. It is an intuitive mind related to human existence, which defies intellectual understandings.
Does it make sense?
In addition, he pointed out greater influence of Zen on Japanese culture than other sects of Buddhism, and found common ideas between Zen and our sense of esthetics in Bushido, or the ethical code of Samurai warriors, the tea ceremony, poetry, and other arts.
Zen signifies a kind of Buddhist thinking, and Za-Zen is a means of realizing the thoughts. The two terms may be confused, but that doesn't matter much.
What you imagine from them might be a Japanese mysticism as a method of mental training similar to Yoga in India.
Being much simpler than Yoga, Za-Zen is common among us in having an oppotunity to see inside of ourselves. It really gives us a sort of self-salvation, and is never hypnotic suggestion or a tricky magic.
Many parents have their boys and girls practice it for several days during their summer holidays, and some athletes often take the method to keep mental stability when in bad shape.
Zen sect of Buddhism, originated in China in the 6th century, has developed in Japan since the 13th century, when Samurai or warrior class took the rule of the country. Za-Zen has been the most important means for monks of the sect to attain enlightenment, the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Nowadays many Zen temples are open to people who want to try the unique way of meditation, where you silently sit on the flour in a distinctive style. All you prepare for the lesson is only easy cloths for you, but geans are no-no.
In the course for beginners,
a senior monk instructs some manners of the practice, walks slowly around the trainees during the meditation lasting about 40 munites,
and taps them on the shoulder with the ritual slender plate when they sway their backs and/or heads without keeping minds relaxed and still.
I spent such a calm and tranquil hour at a temple when I was young.
I clearly remember that I was much impressed with peaceful mind after the deep meditation. That wasn't described in words, a completely different state of mind from daily life.
To those interested in the oriental way of thinking,
I recommend to read the following books, which was written in English in 1930s by D. T. Suzuki, who was a professor of Kyoto university and had made lectures on Zen in London, NewYork and other cities abroad.
According to him, Zen is not a philosophy of metaphysics, and nor is a religion as it is understood by a common meaning. It is an intuitive mind related to human existence, which defies intellectual understandings.
Does it make sense?
In addition, he pointed out greater influence of Zen on Japanese culture than other sects of Buddhism, and found common ideas between Zen and our sense of esthetics in Bushido, or the ethical code of Samurai warriors, the tea ceremony, poetry, and other arts.
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