2006-09-22 01:46:09 · 4 answers · asked by StéphanDeGlasgow 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Outer Laughter, Inner Silence"
- Definition of Zen -
Zen is the ideal state of mind for the Zen sect of Buddhism. It involves a paradox of extroversion and introversion, compassion and dispassion, emptyness and fullness. Pure Zen has come into being only once in the entire history of human conciousness, and that is outlined in the story of Buddha and Mahakashyapa.
2006-09-22 01:50:36 · answer #1 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Developed from CH’an a school of Chinese Buddhism formed in the Seventh century from a blend of Taoism (Chinese philosophy outlined in the TaoTeChing). It aims is to achieve harmony with all that is by pursuing inaction and effortless) and Mahayana teachings. The school stressed experience rather than learning. One of the heroes of Zen is the fierce – looking Indian monk Boddhidharma who brought Buddhism to China.
Absolute faith is placed in a person’s own inner being. Zen came to Japan in the 13th century five centuries after the orthodox forms of Buddhism. It appealed because of its emphasis on the uselessness of words and the insistence of action without thought.
Zen teaches the possibility of enlightenment in the here and now, unlike the tendency that have developed in other strands of Buddhism as far off goals. It teaches that enlightenment is a spontaneous event, totally independent of concepts, techniques or rituals. Zen Monks are based on doing things, learning through experience.
Esoterically regarded, Zen is not a religion but rather an indefinable, incommunicable (fukasetsu) root, free from all names, descriptions, and concepts, that can only be experienced by each individual for him- or herself. From expressed forms of this, all religions have sprung. In this sense Zen is not bound to any religion, including Buddhism. It is the primordial perfection of everything existing, designated by the most various names, experienced by all great sages, saints, and founders of religions of all cultures and times. Buddhism has referred to it as the "identity of samsara and nirvana." From this point of view zazen is not a "method" that brings people living in ignorance (avidya) to the "goal" of liberation; rather it is the immediate expression and actualization of the perfection present in every person at every moment.
2006-09-22 08:56:33 · answer #2 · answered by sista! 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The opposite of now. You know, as in "now and zen".
2006-09-22 09:03:27 · answer #3 · answered by Ask Donna 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seeing infinity in emptiness.
2006-09-22 13:14:04 · answer #4 · answered by shinai_inaozuke 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋