Transcript Zen - The Ecclesbourne School Online

Zen
Important points to remember!
The indigenous religious tradition of
Japan is Shinto
It is based on worship of divine beings
Important points to remember!
Buddhism first officially reached Japan in 538 C.E.
A Korean King sent ambassadors with a Buddha
image, scriptures and monks
Consequence? Much of Chinese civilisation,
Confucianism and Taoism arrived in Japan too
Important points to remember!
So…. Buddhism was perhaps first adopted through
the appeal of its art and ritual
Merit making was important and particularly appealed
to Shotoku (573 – 622) the devoutly religious prince
Consequence? He firmly planted Buddhism as the
state religion for the ‘welfare of Japan’.
Important points to remember!
Temples were built, monks acted as scribes and SIX
schools of Chinese Buddhism were introduced
This Buddhism became a Buddhism for the elite
Consequence? It attracted wealth, became corrupt
and was politically motivated
Important points to remember!
So…. The capital was moved to Kyoto and Japanese
Buddhism flourished
The famous Japanese monk Saicho introduced the
Tendai (in Chinese T’ien T’ai) school from China in 805
Kukai brought the Shingon school over from China too
What about the Zen Schools?
Zen meditation had been included in Tendai
Ch’an masters had visited from China
That said, Zen never took on as a separate
school until the Kamakura period
What about the Zen Schools?
Rinzai (Chinese Lin Chi) style Buddhism was first
introduced into Japan by Eisai (1141 – 1215)
He said Zen was the best form of practice; it was
adaptable and people liked it so it took hold
A long lasting relationship between the Samurai
dynasty and Rinzai developed – a way of ‘skilful means’?
What about the Zen Schools?
But…..another form of Zen was becoming popular too –
Soto (Chinese Ts’ao Tung) introduced by Dogen (1200 –
1253)
It was known as ‘farmers Zen’ as it had a more popular
appeal
Dogen was regarded as a genius and everyone loved
him. He gave Zen a real identity and separated it from
Tendai
What about the Zen Schools?
But…..a problem existed for Dogen – if people already
had Buddha nature why would they need to try hard at
religious practice, rituals and the like to attain
Buddhahood
So he decided to emphasise a stricter form of Zen, a
simple life for monks epitomised by zazen – sitting
meditation
He preferred a few good pupils than lots of people
round him!
What about the Zen Schools?
Legacy?
Like Eisai, Dogen left many writings. He criticised the
neglect of the sutras and he suggested that Shakyamuni
Buddha should be less like the one in Mahayana but
rather a return to the historical Buddha
He emphasised faith, impermanence and trust in your
teacher. He advanced ‘sitting meditation’ where Buddha
nature can gradually unfold
What about other Zen Schools?
NICHIREN
Named after a monk called Nichiren (1222 – 1282)
Fishermans son who favoured the Lotus Sutra above all
other scripture as he said it ‘expresses the essence of
Buddhism’
He saw himself as a successor to Tendai and as the
incarnation of a bodhisattva to protect the teachings in
the mappo age.
What about other Zen Schools?
NICHIREN
In 1223 he started a campaign to convert all to the ways
of the Lotus Sutra hence the chant ‘Namu myo - ho
renge - kyo
He said all other Zen schools would ruin Japan and
Pure Land schools were worse as they worshipped the
imaginary Amida and Shingo worshipped Vairocana
What about other Zen Schools?
NICHIREN
Why is Nichiren an unusual Buddhist character?
He was certain that the reciting of the nembutsu would
lead to hell. Uncharacteristic if Buddhists, he was nearly
executed for this and was banished from Japan twice!!
He was fiercely evangelistic and charismatic and many
loved him for it!
What about later on?
Middle Ages
Rinzai was very popular. During times of trouble
temples were havens of peace, culture, education, art
and painting, calligraphy, sculpture, printing, gardening.
Medicine, architecture, literature and theatre developed.
What about later on?
Middle Ages
Jodo -shu developed the idea that Pure Land is
everywhere and with Jodo – Shin – shu the idea of good
moral behaviour was irrelevant to those with faith in
Amida, calligraphy, sculpture, printing, gardening.
Medicine, architecture, literature and theatre developed.
What about later on?
After the Middle Ages
Shinto began to establish itself again and Buddhism
has took a bit of a back seat ever since though still has
some influences in certain areas of Japan since Japan
has ‘opened its doors to Western influence again.