Synopsis of the history of Zen as a Japanese Tradition

Zen is defined in English as Meditation. But Zen is not just any form of meditation. Zen is a Japanese Discipline as devised by Dogen Zenji and his followers. Dogen's followers took what he had set up and mixed and merged it with the existing thoughts and ideas embedded in Japanese Culture of the time. This culture had drawn from indigenous rituals and ideas, plus it was greatly influenced from Buddhism and Confucianism from the mainland.

Dogen Zenji had traveled to China and brought back a Chinese Buddhist practice called Chan. Chan was developed by the followers of Bodai Dharuma who had brought what he felt was the true Buddhism, free from the intellectualization of Buddhism that he found in China, and gave them 'Wall Gazing' as the root practice of Buddhism. Bodai Daruma's followers then expanded on 'Wall Gazing' with myriad other skillful means, mostly devised from the Chinese Taoist thought and practices. Thus Buddhism and Taoism became infused to create Chinese Chan.

This Meditation that Bodai Daruma brought came from the Natural Meditation Shakyamuni Butsu found as a boy, and sat with again as an adult, after his other Hindu practices left him still unclear; this Natural Meditation resulted in his Awakened state. This Natural Meditation was later labeled as absorption style meditation or dhyana (one of many types of meditation that exist, but the one and only that left Shakyamuni Awakened). This is called Absorption Meditation because one is completely absorbed into Reality and the Reality has completely absorbed the individual; Reality exists as it is and it is lived clearly each absorbed in the other... no separation exists, and all distinctions have fallen away to leave us Awakened.

Shakyamuni's followers added many thoughts and ideas, Gods and Goddesses as skillful means to aid some in their awakening. Many forms were created, many ways, and many paths; most drawing on the Hindu practices that existed in their culture already.

This Zen, then, that Dogen brought back was this Natural Absorption Meditation from Shakyamuni, revived by Bodai Daruma as 'Wall Gazing', and brought to Japan as 'Shikantaza' or 'just precisely sitting'. Dogen's follower's, then, when they added Japanese Culture to the mix created Zen. Zen then is a combination of Hindu, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto (a term now used to denote indigenous Japanese religions from those that came from the mainland; though Shinto (the way of those who came before, or ancestors, or spirits, or even gods) was also influenced by the incoming mainland practices too.

Zen has taken all these influences mixed and or merged them, then periodically boiled them down to a bare essence. Shakyamuni Butsu did it, Bodai Daruma did it, and Dogen did it. This process of expansion and essence produced Japanese Zen. Shikantaza, plus myriad skillful means to lead us all to awaken in this life time, in this very body, right here and now. This is Japanese Zen.

Today in the U.S. a new American Zen is being born. Boiled down again to just living in Reality as it is. But with some of the Japanese Skillful means added when necessary, but only when necessary. We have yet to see exactly what shape American Zen will ultimately take; but we do know one thing... Zen will always be changing, adapting to the new circumstance, fitting exactly in this Reality as it really is, because this is Zen.

Life's Koan Practice

Life has presented a new Koan to me recently.

Kosaka Sensei gives these wonderful lectures. He often ends them with, 'In Japan it is very impolite to ask questions [of your teacher], but does anyone have any questions?

Because of this ending I rarely ask any of my Japanese Teachers questions, but rely on what 'slips out during conversations' or listen in to their answers to others. But mostly I learn from their behavior.

However in recent private talks with Osho-san he said that as a teacher I should not lecture others, but that we should emulate the Buddha by just answering questions. This is why Osho-san's 'Dharma Talks' are really Question Answer sessions.

So how do I do that on a blog?

Hmmmm?

Well, we'll see. Maybe I'll share the questions people ask me and my answers?

Certainly this fits well with one of the 84,200 rules that says 'only teach those who ask'. I always added in my mind 'to be taught;' but as usual I now see that this teaching is multilayered (as they all are).

Trying to teach people who aren't listening is always an interesting exercise, isn't it? Best to wait till we are asked.

Evolution to Zen

Zen evolved from Hindu teachings and yoga in India. Siddhartha awakened via his practice of meditation he had insight into The Middle Path and The 4 Noble Truths, including the 8 Upright Paths; thus his lineage of The Teaching began... The Buddha Dharma was born.

The Teaching traveled the Silk Road to China where Bodai Daruma revived a simple meditation practice of 'wall gazing'. His disciples created Chan Buddhism from what Bodai Daruma taught and what they knew of the world known as the Tao.

Dogen Zenji brought Chan to Japan as Shikantaza, or 'just precisely sitting'. He taught this as the root of all Buddhism. His disciples too brought in what they knew of the world, now known as Shinto, and created Soto Zen Buddhism.

Shaku Soen Roshi, Matsuoka Roshi, Sasaki Roshi, Harada Roshi, Maesumi Roshi, and others then brought Zen to America boiled it down to just what Americans needed, and American Zen was born.


Yoga + Shoriniji + Tao + Shinto - anything extra = Zen 
Only what's needed to awaken = American Zen

Living Life

In Zen, we are living in this life... In this very body. Not an illusion to escape from, but a reality to be lived in. An illuson only in the sense that it does not exist seperate from us, but in us and through us everything exists, particulary 'nothing' that by definition of everything, must be part of everything.

Zen is living reality as it is, as we find it, or how it finds us. Interlinked... Conjoined... interwoven... or usually we say not seperate. Not two, but not one... both, but neither. Both exist, but not seperate.

Ah, so we see the words again fall short; but words are like that. As anyone reading this already knows, the words can only point the way. All skilful means are just that, skilful means in living this daily life. As humans we sometimes fall short too, but we are still living!

So we live this life, in this body; joined with everyone and everything else. Living mindfully every moment of every day is Zen.

Zazen (seated meditation) is the practice, the main skilful means, for all Zen People. Zen People Walking, walk through this life... in a Zen Way.

Living Zen

Living this very moment, every moment of every day.

"‎,,,only distances are covered by running fast, but not destiny; destiny can only be met by 
walking in the right direction calmly"


Jaishri Krishn

Osho-san (Ryugen Watanabe Roshi of Kanzeonji, my home temple) came to my zendo (meditation hall) today. The zendo we have is just 3 tatami in size (but we can fit 7 people in there if we need to). I originally set it up just as a place for me to do my daily zazen (seated meditation) so 3 tatami was the perfect size. I called it sanjo zendo (sanjo means 3 tatami).

Osho-san came today to bless the zendo, and named us Jizo-an. In Buddhism we often are chosen by a patron saint; in my case this patron saint is Jizo Bosatsu. The 'an' after designates the zendo as a sub or small temple. In my case a sub-temple of Kanzeonji under Osho-san's tutelage.

Osho-san & I chanted, with a dozen or so of my students there, to bless the zendo. He gave me permission to take on my own students to teach Zen, answer questions on Buddhism, and lead the practice at Jizo-an.

After the ceremony we shared some snack's and tea. We are now known as Jizo-an Sanjo Zendo.