[Wei Feng]

What is zen?Can someone help me?And to what religion is it?

[General_Zhaoyun]

Wei Feng, on Sep 19 2005, 03:10 PM, said:

What is zen?Can someone help me?And to what religion is it?

Zen is the japanese name for "Chan 禪" . Zen is a sect of Mahayana buddhism, more known in chinese buddhism as Chan buddhist sect (禪宗). Zen actually means "meditation", as the Zen buddhism had been known to practise buddhism through meditation, as well as through rigorous training by Koan (answering Wisdom question aimed at cracking the brain), and achieving enlightenment through instantaneous awakening. Now, because it was the Japanese buddhist monks who brought Zen buddhism into the west, thus, in the west, it was more famously known as Zen buddhism, rather than Chan buddhism (as in chinese).

Chan Buddhism spreaded to China during the North-South dynasty period of 5th century AD. Apparently, it was founded by Bodhidharmo, a high Chan Indian priest who established Shaolin temple in Henan province. Shaolin temple was the 1st Chan buddhist foundation in China, and was also known for its Kungfu (chinese martial arts).

[Wei Feng]

Whats the difference between chinese buddhism and japanese buddhism.I know the the Chinese doe kungfu practise and the Japanese what doe the doe?

[General_Zhaoyun]

Wei Feng, on Sep 19 2005, 04:54 PM, said:

Whats the difference between chinese buddhism and japanese buddhism.I know the the Chinese doe kungfu practise and the Japanese what doe the doe?

Essentially, there are no difference, because Japanese buddhism originated from China, when during Tang dynasty, buddhism was spreaded to Japan. But there are a number of different Japanese buddhist sect such as Soka, Nishiren that are different from Chinese buddhism. It's different method of cultivation, which is beyond my knowledge.

[caocao74]

General_Zhaoyun, on Sep 19 2005, 07:17 PM, said:

Essentially, there are no difference, because Japanese buddhism originated from China, when during Tang dynasty, buddhism was spreaded to Japan. But there are a number of different Japanese buddhist sect such as Soka, Nishiren that are different from Chinese buddhism. It's different method of cultivation, which is beyond my knowledge.

The Hokkeshu (Lotus Sutra sect) started by Nichiren in the 13th Century was also fierecely nationalistic, and undoubtedly the most critical of secular rulers, regularly delivering letters of remonstrance to the Bakufu, and even seizing control of Kyoto between 1532-36 (the so-called Hokke-Ikki), until smashed by the sohei (warrior monks) from Enryakuji.

[Wei Feng]

Thanks all for the info.But when originate the zen temple and gradens in with dynasty ?For the housing there is zen interior doe people today have a zen zen interior?

[caocao74]

Wei Feng, on Sep 19 2005, 09:05 PM, said:

Thanks all for the info.But when originate the zen temple and gradens in with dynasty ?For the housing there is zen interior doe people today have a zen zen interior?

Zen was introduced to Japan in the 1190s by the monk Eisai 明菴栄西, who had studied in China in 1168 and 1187-1191. Unwelcome in Heiankyo, he found a warmer recption in Kamakura, where he allowed to construct the Jufukuji.

Of course, Chan had been introduced to China earlier, allegedly by Bodhidharma 菩提達摩 in the late 5th/early 6th centuries, during the Liang. Whether the famous gardens and tea ceremony developed then or the Tang dynasty, well, maybe someone else knows.

[urofpersia]

General_Zhaoyun, on Sep 19 2005, 06:17 PM, said:

Essentially, there are no difference, because Japanese buddhism originated from China, when during Tang dynasty, buddhism was spreaded to Japan. But there are a number of different Japanese buddhist sect such as Soka, Nishiren that are different from Chinese buddhism. It's different method of cultivation, which is beyond my knowledge.

I believe it should be Nichiren rather than Nishiren.

For the Sokka Gakkai (which itself have splinter groups) the founder Nichiren Daishonin believed that the Lotus Sutra shows the way to enlightenment for all, and the wisdom contained therein can be achieve by chanting its title, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. It claims lineage from the Mahayana line of Buddhism. Other distinction includes the Gohonzon which takes the form of a scroll with religous text on it. It is the focus of the faith and chanting and is a kind of spiritual mirror. They also believe chanting can directly affect your Karma for the better today. The Sokka Gakkai has a large secular following both in Japan and worldwide including here in Singapore. It shares some similarity with Christianity on the belief of the power of faith having an real effect on your lives.

My mother was a member of the Sokka Gakkai for a number of years till she passed on.

[caocao74]

urofpersia, on Sep 19 2005, 10:22 PM, said:

I believe it should be Nichiren rather than Nishiren.

For the Sokka Gakkai (which itself have splinter groups) the founder Nichiren Daishonin believed that the Lotus Sutra shows the way to enlightenment for all, and the wisdom contained therein can be achieve by chanting its title, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. It claims lineage from the Mahayana line of Buddhism. Other distinction includes the Gohonzon which takes the form of a scroll with religous text on it. It is the focus of the faith and chanting and is a kind of spiritual mirror. They also believe chanting can directly affect your Karma for the better today. The Sokka Gakkai has a large secular following both in Japan and worldwide including here in Singapore. It shares some similarity with Christianity on the belief of the power of faith having an real effect on your lives.

Sokka Gakkai 創価学会 was not founded by Nichiren Daishounin. It was not established until 1930, an offshoot of Nichiren Buddhism.

[Wei Feng]

Thanks for the info

[ophelia]

Talking about Zen gardens, can you tell me where in China a good example of typical Zen garden can be found?

[Sephodwyrm]

What is Chan?

According to a Chan master:
Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired.

[MengTzu]

Wei Feng, on Sep 19 2005, 08:54 AM, said:

Whats the difference between chinese buddhism and japanese buddhism.I know the the Chinese doe kungfu practise and the Japanese what doe the doe?

I don't think it's an accurate description of Chinese Buddhism that "they do kungfu practice," because this is, as far as I know, not a universal practice of all Chinese Buddhist monasteries.

[Craig]

MengTzu, on Oct 5 2005, 10:35 AM, said:

I don't think it's an accurate description of Chinese Buddhism that "they do kungfu practice," because this is, as far as I know, not a universal practice of all Chinese Buddhist monasteries.

Yes. Striking or harming another being is antithetical to Buddhist practice. The 'Way of the Open Hand' was a symbol of being weaponless and having an open mind and open heart. It degenerated to become martial arts, but to Mahayana, how is it possible to have 'self defense' when there is no 'self' to defend? To act otherwise was to strengthen the illusion that we are seperate.

[Feiyu]

ophelia, on Oct 6 2005, 12:43 AM, said:

Talking about Zen gardens, can you tell me where in China a good example of typical Zen garden can be found?

The only Zen gardens I've seen were in Japan. I've been to quite a few Zen temples in China and never saw a 'Zen' Garden. Perhaps my image of a Zen garden is the Japanese one. All the gardens I saw in Chinese temples were very similar to Suzhou style which doesn't count as 'Zen'.

Quote

Whats the difference between chinese buddhism and japanese buddhism.I know the the Chinese doe kungfu practise and the Japanese what doe the doe?

Shaolin temple is affiliated with Zen so perhaps this is where the 'kungfu practice' idea came from. It's true that there is some connection between martial arts and Buddhism but I would estimate that most Buddhists don't practice martial arts.

This post has been edited by Feiyu: 05 October 2005 - 09:10 PM