Exactly What Is Zen Buddhism

What is Zen Buddhism? The Japanese name for Chinese “Chan” (for “to think”) Buddhism, Zen or Chan Buddhism is best illustrated, not described, and among the best of illustrations is one of the most well-known of Zen koans, a word that’s loosely translated as “teaching parable.”

A Zen Master was relaxing with two disciplines one day by having cake and tea. Suddenly he took his fan and threw it at one of them, asking, “What’s this?” The disciple caught the fan and started fanning himself, whereupon the Master exclaimed, “Good! Good!” He took one more fan and threw it at the second disciple with the same question. This second disciple also caught the fan, but used it as an eating utensil with which to serve the Master some cake. The Master clapped, “Good! Good!”

And that’s the essence of Zen Buddhism. Yes, that.

What does it mean?

An explanation would actually rob you of the full power of the koan. If you don’t “get” the koan, it is best to keep thinking about it until finally you do. Any further discussion would be most meaningful once you’ve discovered the meaning for yourself. Or put it this way: Which would you rather have, porn or sex?

Sure, porn is very easily obtainable, whereas sex takes work (not only performing it but wooing the lady in the first place!), but one is no doubt a really pale reflection of the other. Likewise, “giving away the answer” will be like explaining a joke; even when you finally understand, that “zzzzt!” feeling is lost forever.

But rest assured that the koan presented above is one of the finest illustrations of what Zen Buddhism is all about, simply because it illustrates Zen on so many levels. It is at once non-sensical and eminently brilliant. It’s funny and quirky and even puzzling but entirely logical and really simple to understand.

It is Zen. It is life.

Tags: Buddhism

The Many Schools Of Buddhism

For its emphasis on finding out for oneself, Buddhism has been lauded as a religion like no other. It is closest in spirit to the ancient Greek philosophers, who for all their diversity of opinions were united in the one belief that inquiry trumps ideology.

Buddhism, despite the well-liked superstitious forms it has taken, remains for many much more a philosophy than a religion – but a philosophy in the ancient Greek sense of the word, which we might more correctly render today as “lifestyle.”

Indeed, all religions are in fact lifestyles, various ways of living and being, but the point here is that Buddhism, or what some Buddhists call “school Buddhism” or “philosophical Buddhism,” concerns discovering out the truth for oneself. There is no reliance on gods or prophets – even the Buddha himself is considered a bad example; a popular Buddhist saying is, “When you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.”

No other religion attacks itself as mercilessly as Buddhism. When you think you’ve got it right – that’s when you’re wrong. The Buddha’s most famous exhortation is, “Be you the author of your own salvation.”

Zen Buddhism in particular has become one of the most popular “brands” of so-called school Buddhism for its philosophy that stresses self-revelation instead of divine revelation.

But what about God, and good and evil?

For Zen Buddhists, such dichotomies as good and evil can be misleading. Though not official dogma, it might be said that “good” comes from, merely, simple living. Simple living comes from just going about your business with full concentration: “When eating, eat; when chopping wood, chop wood.”

It is a sentiment several of the original Greek philosophers would have shared, a preference for the practical over anything metaphysical. And interestingly, Buddhism originated during the great Axial Age, which fact is all the more tantalizing for the numerous connections between the Hellenistic World and the Indus Valley.

Tags: Buddhism

Buddhist Symbols, Their Origin and Meaning

Generally speaking, Buddhist symbols can be considered based on a particular culture and its followers. Everebody heard about Eight Auspicious Symbols, dorje and bell, mandala etc. Many of these symbols can be found in ancient India where Hinduism is the main religion. Their meaning and usage may however not be in the same light. The Buddha lived around the 6th Century B.C. However, no Buddhist art or artifacts are known to have been in existence by then. In the Buddhist holy writings, it is claimed that the Buddha would sometimes use Buddhist art or images such as the Wheel of Life to illustrate his teachings. Ornamental carvings have been found dating to the reign of Emperor Ashoka. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism, thereby making this religion popular both in India and the countries in the vicinity.

Excavations of Buddhist art that have been discovered dating to the first century have mostly been symbolic by nature and their significance remained symbolic until the appearance of the Buddhist Tantra. This Buddhist used imagery and visualization as part of the Buddhist meditation. From here, Tibetan Buddhism was born and Buddhist temples began to have collections of Buddhist art and religious artifacts for Buddhist meditation purposes.

Common symbols found in almost all Buddhist temples are the Lotus, wheel and the stupa. These symbols are commonly used in Buddhist meditation rituals. Looking at some of these symbols will help us have a better understanding of the both Buddhist meditation and the accompanying religious practices.

The bell is one of the symbols used and it serves a natural function and is said to drive out evil spirits. It consists of a lotus symbol, dorje and a moondisc. In religious rituals, the bell is harmonized with the dorje, another symbol. The bell is used to represent the feminine principle of wisdom while the dorje represents the masculine principle of compassion.

The indestructible state of Buddha hood is represented by the dorje. The dorje plays an important role in Buddhism meditation. It is in fact a staff, also known by the term, the Vajra.

Offering of incense is also taken to be an important part of Buddhism. Incense burning is usually accompanied by specific requests that touch on longevity, success and personal wellbeing. During these Buddhist meditation rituals, qualities like joy, love and kindness are taken into consideration and meditated upon.

One location that is important in Buddhist worship is Mount Kailash. This mountain peak is located on the Himalayan Mountains and is regarded as the central point of our vast universe. It is an important location for Buddhist meditation and has a religious connection to the 4 main religions of the region. These religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon.

Buddhist art forms are seen by many as visual mantras. The large assortments are usually located in the Buddhist temples. By contemplating on these religious Buddhist art forms, it is generally accepted that one will build an inner contact with the facet being represented.

Tags: Buddhism