Zen buddhism

Introduction to Religions: Zen Buddhism

1. The University of Cambodia RLG101: Introduction to Religions Zen Buddhism : Beliefs & Practices Lectured By: Mut Somoeun ( M.Ed )

2. ZEN BUDDHISM

3. Zen Buddhism To study Buddhism is to study the self, to study the self is to forget the self. Dogen Zenji All beings by nature are Buddhas , as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas . - Hakuin Ekaku

4. What is Zen Buddhism? Zen (Chinese & Korean: Chán ) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty as Chan Buddhism. Zen school was strongly influenced by Taoism and developed as a distinct school of Chinese Buddhism. From China, Chan Buddhism spread south to Vietnam, northeast to Korea and east to Japan, where it became known as Japanese Zen and known as Seon Buddhism in Korea.

5. The term Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word ( Chan) which traces its roots to the Indian practice of Dhyana ("meditation"). Zen emphasizes rigorous self-control, meditation-practice, insight into Buddha-nature, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others. What is Zen Buddhism?

6. At the heart of the Japanese culture lies Zen, a school of Mahayana Buddhism. Zen is, first and foremost, a practice that was uninterruptedly transmitted from master to disciple, and that goes back to the Awakening of a man named Siddhārtha Gautama. What is Zen Buddhism?

7. Where Zen From? Zen Buddhism is a mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. It began in China, spread to Korea and Japan. Zen began to emerge as a distinctive school of Mahayana Buddhism when the Indian sage Bodhidharma (ca. 470-543) taught at the Shaolin Monastery of China. It's a real place, and yes, there is a historic connection between kung fu and Zen.

8. How the Zen Practices The practice of Zen meditation or Zazen - za meaning sitting, and Zen meaning meditation in Japanese, is the core of Zen Buddhism. Zen meditation, is a way of vigilance and self-discovery which is practiced while sitting on a meditation cushion. It is the experience of living from moment to moment, in the here and now. It is through the practice of Zazen that Gautama got enlightened and became the Buddha.

9. Zazen is an attitude of spiritual awakening, which when practiced, can become the source from which all the actions of daily life flow - eating, sleeping, breathing, walking, working, talking, thinking, and so on. How the Zen Practices

10. Zen Buddhism is not a theory, an idea, or a piece of knowledge. It is not a belief, dogma, or religion; but rather, it is a practical experience. We cannot intellectually grasp Zen because human intelligence and wisdom are too limited. Zen is not a moral teaching, and as it is without dogma, it does not require one to believe in anything. Teaching: Theory/ Dogma?

11. A true spiritual path does not tell people what to believe in; rather it shows them how to think; or, in the case of Zen - what not to think. The essence of Zen Buddhism is achieving enlightenment by seeing one's original mind (or original nature) directly; without the intervention of the intellect. Teaching: Theory/ Dogma?

12. Zen is very pragmatic and down to earth. It is essentially a practice, an experience, not a theory or dogma. Zen adheres to no specific philosophy or faith, and has no dogma that its followers must accept or believe in, but it traditionally accept the concepts of karma and samsara. Teaching: Theory/ Dogma?

13. Zen does not seek to answer subjective questions related to God, the afterlife, reincarnation, and spiritualism. What really matters is the here and now: not God, not the afterlife, but the present moment here and now. Teaching: Theory/ Dogma?

14. MEDITATION Observing the breath (the flow of in and put breath) Observing the mind (monitor the process of mind/ thinking)

15. 16 MIND CULTIVATION? Peaceful Mind Compassion Loving-kindness Honesty Generosity Forgiveness Humility Acceptance See the truth

16. Advantages of Meditation: -Lengthens life -Gives one strength -Drives out discontent -Softens the mind chakrameditationtoday.com

17. Progressive Steps of Meditation: -Restraint of senses -Understanding of how the senses cause bondage -Solitary Meditation -Concentration and the forsaking of idle thoughts www.rogerlewin.com

18. Two Aspects of Meditation: Calm Meditation and Insight Meditation

19. Calm Meditation: -return to clarity -suppression of defilements -understanding of mind’s nature -stilling the mind -overcoming the mind’s tendencies -object of contemplation -access concentration www.jjgallaher.blogspot.com

20. Insight Meditation: -after calm meditation -achieves understanding that all things are: -impermanent and unstable -unsatisfactory and imperfect -not self www.sodahead.com

21. 22 Thank You! Q & A