A special transmission outside the teachings,

not depending on written words,

directly pointing to the human mind,

see one’s nature and become Buddha.

The Japanese word zen comes from the Chinese word ch’an, which itself comes from the Sanskrit dhyana, meaning “meditation.” As the history of this word suggests, Zen developed as Indian Buddhism encountered and adapted to Chinese culture in the 5th century CE. From there it spread to Japan, the rest of East Asia and, eventually, the rest of the world. Zen is therefore, in other words, the “meditation school” of Buddhism, earning this name with by its severe emphasis on meditative practices and a direct engagement with the existential questions of Buddhism as opposed to the textual study, philosophizing, devotional practices etc. emphasized by other Buddhist schools.

What can explain the proliferation of this set of practices over centuries and across continents, cultures and languges?

Buddhism and Zen are motivated by profound questions fundamental to the human experience. What am I? What is this life for? Why is there suffering? A person comes to Zen when such questions can no longer be ignored. Practicing Zen is not about learning a system of belief or dogmas, but is rather an attempt to achieve direct recognition of your own true nature through the use of mind-body techniques and then to integrate that realization into your life. Universal questions are thereby resolved within insights arising from your own being, providing a spontaneous wisdom and way of being that is not meditated by religion, philosophy or culture.

The purpose of Zen is thus not to give you something new, or to help you do something new. It is to discover the true nature of your existence, and to manifest the boundless freedom which comes from that. To practice Zen is to discover what a human being truly is.

About Zen Practice

The essential point of Zen practice is to be awakened through a direct seeing of one's true nature: the "Buddha nature", or "true self". Open and undefiled, free of fabrication, grasping or fear, beyond effort and dualistic concept - this is the recognition of your own "original face".

Because Zen takes this seeing as its gate and the basis of practice, it is also called the "Buddha-Mind School" and the Ekayana ("One Vehicle"): a separate transmission encompassing the essence of all Buddhist teachings, not depending upon sutra or tantra, and leading to rapid attainment of the highest goal by "directly pointing at the human mind.”

The fundamental task of the Zen teacher is thus to help the student to recognize the true nature, and to guide him or her along the path of clarifying and integrating that recognition. Practice methods characteristic of the Rinzai tradition include zazen (seated meditation), a highly developed use of koan meditation and practices training the breathing and subtle energetic systems. Rinzai Zen is also well known for adapting a range of complementary disciplines to refine the human being and manifest wisdom in activity: fine arts such as calligraphy and flower arrangement and physical culture like martial arts are traditional examples which facilitate Zen insight through the body.

Through devoted practice of this kind one swiftly gains unshakeable confidence in one's own natural mind as both path and fruit of the Way. Training ceaselessly, revealing this wisdom in the play of daily activities, freedom and liberation naturally unfold. Zen is extremely direct, and its methods can seem severe. But those who undertake its practice may attain deep realization within this very life. The authentic expression of such realization is compassion.

Through Zen, one's entire life becomes the dojo: a place of enlightenment. Zen shows us that the path of wisdom and compassion, our true path, has always been right here at our own feet:

At this moment, what is there you lack?

Nirvana presents itself before you!

This very place is the Pure Land,

This very body, the Buddha.

- Hakuin Ekaku Zenji