“Zen” …the late Steven Jobs from Apple Inc was interested in it too and he actually mentioned about it in his biography which was published last year.
The origin of zen is Bodhidharma who was a Buddhist monk and was from India transmitted it first when he visited China. We actually know Bodhidharma very well. Because it is the Dharma doll which is a Japanese traditional doll which everyone knows. It was actually modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. This person had actually been engaged in the zen meditation for 9 years while sitting and facing to a wall. Everyone must wonder why he did such a thing…It’s even said that because he spent too long doing the zazen meditation, his limbs developed into gangrene, so that’s why, the red and round Dharma doll doesn’t have any limbs.
As for the origin of word of zen, it’s said that it Is derived from Sanskrit ध्यान (Dhyāna). It can be translated into “meditation” in the modern language and also the word “yoga” in India is translated into “meditation”, too. Also as for the temple “Sūzan-shōrinji嵩山少林寺” where Bodhidharma had engaged in his meditation for 9 years, it is well known worldwide as the center of the Shaorin martial art 少林武術.
In addition to this, zen which Bodhidharma spread in China came to Japan and zen of the Hakuin’s Rinzai sect and Dougen’s Soto sect became popular in Japan.
As for these different sects of zen, Rinzai sect’s zen is generally said that it is a “Koan-zen公案禅” with which people can become enlightened by “zen mondou禅問答 (Zen questions and answers)”. On the other hand, Soto sect’s zen is said to be “shikantaza只管打坐” where people just focus on zazen meditation.
There are other sects, such as Oubaku sect and Fuke sect. As for a person whose name was Ingen who started the Oubaku sect is well known because ingen-mame (kidney beans) is named after his name as he brought the ingen-mame (kidney beans) to Japan first. As for the Fuke sect, komusou虚無僧 with Shakuhachi尺八(bamboo flute) is popular as we often see in the Japanese historical dramas on TV.
Well, I briefly explained about zen.
I previously introduced Hakuin’s zazen wasan (Part 31), so this time I’d like to introduce one of Dougen’s. (red part is original, black part is translation)
Shōbōgenzō
Genjōkōan
BUTSUDOU O NARAU TO IUKOTO WA JIKO O NARAU NARI
Understanding things in this world (Buddhist world) is to understand yourself.
JIKO O NARAU TO IUKOTO WA JIKO O WASURURU NARI
Understanding yourself means to know that everything is the delusion which you created.
JIKOWO WASURURU TO IUWA BANPOU NI AKASERARURU NARI
When you understand about the delusion which your mind created, this world where you live will totally change. It’s a miracle.
BANPOU NI AKASERARURU TO IUWA JIKO NO SHINJIN OYOBI TAKO NO SHINJIN O TOTSURAKU SESHIMURU NARI
When you understand it, you will find for yourself that it was actually a delusion which your mind created, then things that separate you from others will disappear and you will disappear, too. Then you will find “love”.
Well, I translated it very briefly again.
Also I’d like to introduce other famous zen monks here. Takuan Osho (Rinzai sect monk), who is popular as Takuan (Japanese food, pickles) was named after him. Another monk is Ikkyu (Rinzai sect). He is popular as there was an animation series on TV in Japan. Sengai (Rinzai sect) is a monk who put his disciple into an embarrassing situation as he begged “I don’t want to die” when he was dying. I think, in zen world, there are more monks who are particularly unique and unusual.
