ZEN Rev. Rosan Osamu Yoshida, Ph.D. At Unitech Institute of Technology On September 11 & 12, 2012 C.E.
ZEN Rev. Rosan Osamu Yoshida, Ph.D. St. Louis University On September 26, 27, 28, 2012 C.E.
Zen • Etymology: Chan (Chinese)Jhāna (Pali)Dhyāna (Sanskrit) Meditation (usual translation) • Definition: A. Shikan-taza = 只管打坐 Just sitting/Devoted sitting B. Samatha-vipassanā (Pali) Shamatha-vipashyanā (Skt.) (Calmness-observation)
1st stage of zen (jhāna) 5 coverings (lust-desire, covetousness-malevolence, sloth-drowsiness, agitation-worry, doubt) extinct reflection contemplation joy comfort one-pointedness 4 fluxes (lust, becoming, view, nescience) still extant
2nd stage of zen (jhāna) reflection contemplation joy comfort one-pointedness of mind 4 fluxes (lust, becoming, view, nescience) now extinct
3rd stage of zen (jhāna) joy comfort one-pointedness of mind equipoised
4th stage of zen (jhāna) comfort one-pointedness of mind samādhi equipoise nibbāna
Nib-bāna (Nir-vāna) vāna=vāta=wind No wind (of karma) blowing action/action result (habit) (physical/verbal/mental) (conceptual/emotional/volitional) Buddha: “All creatures are karma machines.”
Awakening (bodhi) Awakened (buddha) Awakening from delusion Waking up from dreaming “lamp in no wind (nivāte padīpa)” A new light (awakening) in nirvana
Dharma • A. Meanings of Dharma 1. Dharma = form = phenomena 2. Dharma = norm = law/truth 3. Dharma = teaching • B. Dharma of all dharmas (Law of all phenomena) = Dependent Origination (All phenomena Dependently Originated on causes and conditions.)
Dependent Origination 1 • 1. Origination of consciousness consciousness contact sense organ sense object
Dependent Origination 2 • 2. Origination of Suffering Craving (Action) Suffering (disatisfaction) (tanhā)(sankhāra)(duk-kha = wrong going) (Three Steps: San-dō: 三道)
Dependent Origination 3 • 3. Origination of Samsāra (becoming) appropriationsamsāra (becoming)* (upādāna)(samsāra= bhava) *becoming something (sick, old, parent, I, etc.) by appropriation/identification (aspects)
Old oral tradition: • Nescience – formations – consciousness – name-form – six bases – contact – feeling – • craving – appropriation – becoming - birth – aging-death • 2. New structural interpretation = showing suffering of samsara (impermanence): Dependent Origination 4 (Dependent Origination. 1 + 2 + 3) Notes on the terms: Name-form = sense object = dharma Six bases = six sense organs Contact = contact of sense organ, sense object and consciousness Formation = function (karma) Becoming = birth/aging/death = samsara (flow) Craving, formations & suffering are called “three steps (sando) Nescience (existential ignorance) appropriates body-mind as self, involved in becoming (birth, aging, death = samsara). name-form six bases consciousness feeling formations appropriation becoming birth/aging-death contact craving nescience suffering
4 Noble Truths & 8 Right Paths • 4 Holy Truths (: Noble Truths) 1. Suffering (Problem) 2. Cause of suffering (Craving) 3. Cessationof suffering (nirvana) 4. Paths to cessation of suffering • 8 Eightfold Holy Path(: RightPaths) 1. Rightview 2. Rightthinking 3. RightSpeech 4. RightAction 5. Rightlivelihood 6. Rightstriving 7. Rightmindfulness 8. Rightconcentration
Buddhism (Awakened Way): Goals: A. AWAKENING from nightmare & daydreams (delusion=selfishness due to motion/idea) in the 3 Steps (delusion-action-suffering) B. PEACE in awakening & unconditioning (cessation of action/action-result=karma) by Triple Learning (sīla, samādhi, prajñā = morality, concentration, prognosis)
Religion • Definition: Re-ligāre(Re-union, Latin) with “the holy” [wholesome whole] • Goals：A: Knowledge：Prognosis (Witness) of Truth (Dharma, Dao, Dyau, Deva, Deus, Jovis, Ju（‐piter), Yhvh - Yahveh - El, Allāh, etc.) B: Action：Practice of Peace in Friendship (Mitra, Metteya, Maitreya, Mithra, Mazda, Masiah, Messiah, Miroku, 弥勒, etc.)
Zen Goals A. Zen is the corepractice of Buddhism. B. Zen achieves the Triple Learning of morality, concentration and prognosis. Methods A. Za-zen (坐禅：Sitting-stilling) B. Zen-life (in truth/peace)
Zen is becoming Truth Itself • A. Zen Koan “Cypress Tree in the Garden” Disciple said, “What is the significance of the Patriarch coming from the West? Master said, “Cypress tree in the garden.” • B. Tree & True came from Dhree (root form of Dharma, meaning “Holding forms informing norms”
A Clear Crystal Ball Xuan-sha said, “The entire world in ten directions is a ball of clear crystal.” - realizing the whole world in “a cypress tree”- Limitless life, light, liberation and love
