Zen Buddhism is the practice of meditation Buddhism that had its greatest development and success in China. Known as Chan in Chinese and dhyana in Sanskrit, Zen has often been translated to mean meditation. Its ultimate goal, Shunyata an empty, zero state, called Buddha nature must be obtained to reach enlightenment. Though many followers believe Shunyata can be acquired by anyone through spontaneous, direct intuition, others believe that this sudden awareness is impossible to achieve. The Northern sect of the Buddhist school, Chan1, calls for a gradual attainment of enlightenment contradicting the insistence on sudden enlightenment of the Southern sect. Despite these differences, Zen Buddhism has become a very powerful force in the lives of many. Its basis bears teachings that can be seen as a lifestyle as opposed to a religion, since it is very meditative and devotional, rather than scriptural.
[...] The Art of Zen Meditation Zen Buddhism is the practice of meditation Buddhism that had its greatest development and success in China. Known as Chan in Chinese and dhyana in Sanskrit, Zen has often been translated to mean meditation. Its ultimate goal, Shunyata an empty, zero state, called Buddha nature must be obtained to reach enlightenment. Though many followers believe Shunyata can be acquired by anyone through spontaneous, direct intuition, others believe that this sudden awareness is impossible to achieve. [...]
[...] While in the correct posture, it is also necessary to concentrate on inhalation and exhalation to purify the mind as “when mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing”10 resulting in Shunyata, the ultimate goal of Zen meditation. This nothingness is exactly what prevails once the mind is emptied. While breathing is one way to control the mind, other more philosophical methods also exist. A sub sect of the Southern sect of Chan, Linji insists on reaching enlightenment through Koan. [...]
[...] It refers to the religious discipline that aims at calming the mind and permitting the person to penetrate into his or her own inner consciousness. Oxtoby, World Religions: Eastern Traditions Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. (New York: Weatherhill, 1970) Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind “Cosmic Mudra” refers to the hand gesture in which the left hand is on top of right, the middle joints of the fingers lay on top of one another, and the thumbs are slightly touching to reveal an oval shape in ones hands [...]
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