SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

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134 Appendix I: The Gist of Sōtō ZenIn Buddhism we call such a realization Òthe originalaffirmationÓ (honsh‡). ÒIt is heretical to believe that trainingand enlightenment are separate for, in Buddhism, the two areone and the same. Since training embraces enlightenment, thevery beginning of training contains the whole of originalenlightenmentÓ [Zen is Eternal Life, ÒBendowa,Ó 1999, p. 186],i.e., the affirmation that we are enlightened from the outset.Therefore, we may regard serene reflection meditation as apractice which is identical with being Buddha and not simply ameans to reach the stage of Buddhahood. Enlightenment isfound in religious observance, and religious observances inenlightenment. The two are known as honsh‡ my‡sh‰, i.e.,original enlightenment is simultaneously wondrous training.The practice mentioned here is unending; therefore, althoughone realizes enlightenment, one continues religious training asbefore. Even if one should become Buddha, no interruption inreligious endeavors may take place. If enlightenment is to beconsidered only as a goal, then meditation can be regarded asnothing more than a means to reach that goal. This would indicatethat once the goal is reached, the means will be cast aside.But to D‡gen meditation is not merely a means to an end, it isthe end itself. This attitude toward meditation, which we callshikan taza or Òwholehearted Zazen,Ó transcends the distinctionbetween religious striving and enlightenment itself. Whenone is firmly in a state of enlightenment, everyday life itselfbecomes a religious exercise in expressing our gratitude to the
e. The Religion of Great Masters Dōgen and Keizan 135Buddha. D‡gen remarks about this: ÒThe life of this one day,to-day, is absolutely vital life; your body is deeply significant.ÉThisBuddha Nature is itself the Buddha and, shouldyou awaken to a complete understanding thereof, your gratitudeto the Buddhas will know no bounds.Ó Every moment ofeach day is absolutely vital life and is sacred unto itself for thisreason and cannot come again. In Bhadderaratta S‰tta there isthis passage: ÒDo with all your heart what you must do today.Who can know the death of tomorrow?Ó The essence of Buddhismand the religious striving to express our gratitude consistthen in living every day in Truth.Two generations after D‡gen, during the time of Keizan(1268Ð1325 C.E.), the Serene Reflection School made a greatstep forward in strengthening its social basis and laid the foundationfor building a steady religious order. While D‡gen andKeizan differed in some elements of the teaching, their basicviewpoint and belief were the same. Keizan especially stressedselflessness in action for the benefit of all beings.
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SŌTŌ ZEN
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SŌTŌ ZENAn Introduction to the Th
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THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THEBUDDHI
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CONTENTSIntroductionForewordviiixii
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Introductionixthe cause of educatio
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IntroductionxiGreat Master D‡gen
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FOREWORDZen Buddhism, a religion wh
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ForewordxvThis is one of the charac
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1.The Coming World CultureThe word
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The Coming World Culture 5philosoph
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The Coming World Culture 7religious
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The Coming World Culture 9Western c
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2.The Basic Thought of BuddhismDoes
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The Basic Thought of Buddhism 13ess
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The Basic Thought of Buddhism 15to
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The Basic Thought of Buddhism 17but
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The Basic Thought of Buddhism 19gra
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The Origin and Development of Zen 2
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4.Zen and Oriental CultureZen origi
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Zen and Oriental Culture 37(1192Ð1
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Zen and Oriental Culture 39Ming Dyn
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Zen and Oriental Culture 41My‡get
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Zen and Oriental Culture 43The arch
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5.The Basic Meaning of Sōtō ZenTh
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The Basic Meaning of Sōtō Zen 47d
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The Basic Meaning of Sōtō Zen 49I
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The Basic Meaning of Sōtō Zen 55t
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6.The True Spirit of the Two Ancest
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The True Spirit of the Two Ancestor
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The Key to the Doctrines 73training
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The Key to the Doctrines 75He alway
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The Key to the Doctrines 77to belie
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The Key to the Doctrines 79the True
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The Key to the Doctrines 81or doing
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Page 101 and 102: Zen Buddhism and the West 85to Zen,
Page 103 and 104: Zen Buddhism and the West 87States
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Page 109 and 110: Zen Buddhism and the West 93The Ess
Page 111 and 112: The Religion of the Future 95How do
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Page 128 and 129: THE GIST OF SŌTŌ ZENa. What is Se
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Page 174 and 175: 158 Sōtō Zenmonastics, the Order
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SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

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