What does Zen do for you?

Question

Im intersted in Zen meditation and am trying to find out more about it

Answer 1

Zen enlightens you in a very very unique way.

Zen Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, and, as such, its teachings are deeply rooted in those of the Buddha. It draws primarily on Mahāyāna sutras composed in India and China, particularly the Heart Sutra; the Diamond Sutra; the Lankavatara Sutra; the Samantamukha Parivarta, a chapter of the Lotus Sutra; and the Platform Sutra of Huineng. The body of Zen doctrine also includes the recorded teachings of masters in the various Zen traditions.

The Zen schools, like other Buddhist sects, teach the fundamental elements of Buddhist philosophy, including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, pratitya samutpada, the five precepts, the five skandhas, and the three dharma seals: non-self, impermanence, and dukkha. Zen philosophy also includes teachings specific to Mahayana Buddhism, including the Mahayanan conception of the paramitas and the ideal of the bodhisattva's universal salvific power. Mahayana Buddhist religious figures such as Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, Mañjuśri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Amitabha Buddha are venerated in Zen temples along with Śakyamuni Buddha, although Amitabha takes a less prominent role than in many other forms of Mahayana. This is particularly true in the Japanese Soto and Rinzai schools, which conceive of themselves as purer Zen schools, less influenced by other Buddhist sects.

Because Zen developed as a distinct school in medieval China, it also reflects the influence of Chinese philosophy, including Taoism and, to a lesser extent, Confucianism. Different researchers have developed various opinions on the degree of Taoist influence on Zen. It is clear that, in the early centuries of Buddhism's contact with China, it was often described in Taoist terminology for want of indigenous Buddhist expressions in the Chinese language. This trend is noticeable in Zen—for instance, Chinese Zen texts often use the term tao (道, pinyin: dào) in describing Buddhist philosophy. Some modern scholars argue that this influence was fairly superficial, while others argue that it deeply influenced Zen philosophy. An example of the latter is Ray Grigg, whose book The Tao of Zen argues that Zen can best be understood as a form of Taoist philosophy with superficial Buddhist trappings.

Zen is not primarily an intellectual philosophy nor a solitary pursuit. Zen temples emphasize meticulous daily practice, and hold intensive monthly meditation retreats. Practicing with others is valued as a way to avoid the traps of ego. In explaining the Zen Buddhist path to Westerners, Japanese Zen teachers have frequently made the point that Zen is a "way of life" and not solely a state of consciousness. D.T. Suzuki wrote that the aspects of this life are: a life of humility; a life of labor; a life of service; a life of prayer and gratitude; and a life of meditation.

Zen teachings often criticize textual hermeneutics and the pursuit of worldly accomplishments, concentrating primarily on meditation in pursuit of an unmediated awareness of the processes of the world and of the mind. At the same time, however, the Zen school has—perhaps paradoxically—produced a vast corpus of literature. Zen, however, is not a purely passive doctrine: the Chinese Chan master Baizhang (720–814 CE) left behind a famous saying which had been the guiding principle of his life, "A day without work is a day without eating."

D. T. Suzuki asserted that satori (awakening) has always been the goal of every school of Buddhism, but that which distinguished the Zen tradition as it developed in China, Korea, and Japan was a way of life radically different from that of Indian Buddhists. In India, the tradition of the mendicant (bhikkhu) prevailed, but in China social circumstances led to the development of a temple and training-center system in which the abbot and the monks all performed mundane tasks. These included food gardening or farming, carpentry, architecture, housekeeping, administration, and the practice of folk medicine. Consequently, the enlightenment sought in Zen had to stand up well to the demands and potential frustrations of everyday life.


[edit] Zazen
Main article: zazen
Zen sitting meditation, the core of zen practice, is called zazen (坐禅). During zazen, practitioners usually assume a sitting position such as the lotus, half-lotus, Burmese, or seiza postures. Awareness is directed towards one's posture and breathing. Often, a square or round cushion (zafu) placed on a padded mat (zabuton) is used to sit on; in some cases, a chair may be used. In Rinzai Zen, practitioners typically sit facing the center of the room; while Soto practitioners traditionally sit facing a wall.

In Soto Zen, shikantaza meditation ("just-sitting") that is, a meditation with no objects, anchors, or content, is the primary form of practice. Considerable textual, philosophical, and phenomenological justification of this practice can be found in Dogen's Shobogenzo. Rinzai Zen, instead, emphasizes attention to the breath and koan practice (q.v.).

The amount of time spent daily in zazen by practitioners varies. Dogen recommends that five minutes or more daily is beneficial for householders. The key is daily regularity, as Zen teaches that the ego will naturally resist, and the discipline of regularity is essential. Practicing Zen monks may perform four to six periods of zazen during a normal day, with each period lasting 30 to 40 minutes. Normally, a monastery will hold a monthly retreat period (sesshin), lasting between one and seven days. During this time, zazen is practiced more intensively: monks may spend four to eight hours in meditation each day, sometimes supplemented by further rounds of zazen late at night.


This Japanese scroll calligraphy of Bodhidharma reads “Zen points directly to the human heart, see into your nature and become Buddha”. It was created by Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768)Dogen's teacher Rujing was said to sleep fewer than four hours each night, spending the balance in zazen[3].

Meditation as a practice can be applied to any posture. Walking meditation is called kinhin. Successive periods of zazen are usually interleaved with brief periods of walking meditation to relieve the legs.

Answer 2

I don't know about Zen meditation, but Zen Philosphy is all over the place with influences from Indian Buddhism, Chinese Toa and a few other things it's all very confusing. All I can say for sure is that there are 2 types of Zen Buddhism and that they believe in immediate enlightenment?

Answer 3

At the moment I can but be saddened that I've lost the zen that I had. So I just find it as something to wonder about and be entertained by. You cannot search for it - you find it by not trying to.

You are being chased by murderous bandits until you reach a cliff. You climb down a vine but look below and see a hungry tiger. Sticking out from the cliff is a strawberry. Eat the strawberry - live for and be as one with the moment. Do not worry about what the future may hold or what has happened in the past (tigers or bandits).

You are sat in your house when a large armed burglar breaks in. Read your book or whatever you were doing and ask him to close the door on his way out. See things as they truly are and do not place great worth on material possessions.

All makes perfect sense, and would be stress free, but so difficult to attain.

Answer 4

Zen is
spiritual exercises like meditation in yoga. very well perfected by Japanese. It tones up your spirit, make you spiritually stronger. One Zen Master (whom I have met) escaped the Hiroshima Atom Bomb though he was in the central periphery of the impact. He was a very saintly person. His name was LaSalle. He also authored a book on Zen.

Answer 5

zen is the highest truth on this planet u cancheckit out websites on line about zen old zen master

Answer 6

Zen calms mind. I am more "in the moment" with more concentration. There is no right no wrong - just is. I realise that right and wrong good and bad are values that humans create subjectively and do not really exist - maybe?

Answer 7

Ya know you can't use ZEN in Scrabble, or Literati.
but words like, LORD, GOD, and even, ALMIGHTY are still allowed.
oh sorry, you probably didn't really care about that.
Zen is just another...oh man I am not even sure what it is.
But if you want to meditate, MEDITATE ON GOD, ask Him/Jesus Christ into your heart.
Oh, well, there is this SPIRATUAL WARFARE/battle going on right now between good and evil.
But I read the end, GOOD WILL PREVAIL.
But what sort of ending does ZEN offer to you?
Not sure are you.
It seems like another road that lead to DARKNESS and CONFUSION... that is what they were really saying, CONFUSIA=CONFUSION...
it is not just my opinion, I am sure close to two thirds of the worlds population will back me on this.
But then we are probably all wrong, lost souls following that guy...JESUS.
well,
GOD BLESS you in your future.
May He grab hold of you and never let you go.
Then you will have lots of great questions to ask...
Like, where did God come from...He is the BEGINNING and the END.
Alpha and omega....PRAISE GOD!
DJH

Answer 8

For me, the god and zen in me see's the god and zen in you. it all works, however, find the one that best works for you.

"it's all good"

Answer 9

Centers and calms you. Like the Alexander technique.

Answer 10

It will help you be calmer and more focused. Good if you live a busy life.