Talk:Zazen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Well, that's not how it's always done...
- Could you perhaps expand on that extremely terse comment? *8)
-
- I think what he means is that the article on Zazen does not describe every variation of the practice. I noticed the same thing. Every sangha does some things differently, but I feel the article gives a 'good enough' '35,000 feet' view of the practice. Jordan Langelier 21:38, 13 Oct 2004 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] I made some updates
First, thanks to the original author of this article. With respect, I have added a section on the various ways zazen is taught, and a section which compares it to some of the other forms of meditation in Buddhism. This is my first Wikipedia entry, please let me know if there is anything I can do to make it better.
-DaveK
[edit] Sudden vs. Gradual
I would be surprised to learn that experienced Soto practitioners would refer to their technique as "gradual". It sounds like a misunderstanding to me. Looked at in another way, the immediate practice of shikantaza is more "sudden" than the formal contemplation of koans used as a tool in Rinzai. In my understanding, Soto Zen is no less a "sudden" school, as described in the Platform Sutra, than Rinzai: the "gradual" school which the Sixth Patriarch condemned was something else entirely. I suspect that, being a practice reviled by Zen's Sixth Patriarch, referring to any form of Zen as "gradual" could be considered by some to be an insult.Beginnermind 17:27, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
Since it's been a few days, I'll just remove the sudden/gradual references from the article. Here's a quote from an online source, who knows their stuff better than me:
http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/HistoricalZen/Sudden_vs_Gradual_Ray.html
Of interest is the information presented which cites sources footnoted 18 and 19, comparing calling the "northern" school the "northern" school was an attempt to discredit it as being gradual, and that modern Zen practice looks on sudden enlightenment as superior, and calling any school of Zen "gradual" is akin to calling Theravada "Hinayana". I'd put a small quote in here from there, but apparently wikipedia is paranoid about quotation and fair use, so you'll have to look for yourself. The footnote 18 in there is listed as sourced from Yampolsky's translation of the Tun-Huang manuscript version of the Platform sutra and from Heinrich Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism: A History Vol 1., while the other footnoted quote 19 is listed from Dumoulin op cit. I hope that's enough of a citation for a discussion on removing terminology.
In short, though, the issue of "sudden" and "gradual" enlightenment is probably best left in an historical context. The so called "northern school", according to that article, lost influence in China because it was seen as "gradual", while it lost influence in Tibet because it was seen as "sudden". Politics.:) 199.247.235.10 23:16, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Hand of thought
What does opening the hand of thought mean?--Filll 20:33, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Links
I don't understand why there is an external link: "The Awakened Heart Project for Jewish Meditation and Contemplative Judaism" with this article? Should this be here?
[edit] First paragraph
I've read the first paragraph, and there are a few things I don't fully understand. Perhaps it could be rephrased?
"...is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice"; what does it mean to be at the heart of something?
"...opening the hand of thought."; what does that mean?
--HelgeStenstrom (talk) 17:33, 18 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] horrible. sitting?
This article need a re emphasis on what is the goal and importance of Zazen.. Zen meditation if not about the "sitting" techniques, nor is it about it's social relevancies and history. There is nothing in this article about the true meaning or aim of Zen meditation AT ALL. --Procrastinating@talk2me 12:29, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

