What is Zen
Zen (japanese translation of the chinese tchan) is a fascinating philosophy
that could be considered the other side of the medal of the actual human
thinking. It is a form of Buddhism founded by Bodhidharma, who took it
from India to China, in the sixth century. After nearly five hundred years
the Zen came to Japan where it flourished, and where it became one of the
main religions.
It teaches that reality is one, unchangeable and eternal,
and that plurality, motion and becoming are simple illusions of senses.
It tries to reach the lighting, and one of the means it uses are the "koans",
short, illogical stories, wich are supposed to act as triggers on the listener's
mind.
Here are some of my favourite koans:
"Once, while Joshu and another monk were together in the
monastry, a dog walked before them. Then the monk asked to Joshu -Has the
dog Buddha-nature?-.
-Mu.- answered Joshu."
"A monk asked to Baso -What is Buddha?-
Baso answered -This mind isn't Buddha.-"
"A monk asked to Nansen -Is there any teaching that
no master has never told?-
-Yes- Nansen said.
-What is it?- asked the monk.
-It isn't mind, it isn't Buddha, it isn't things.-"
And now some link to learn more about Zen:
©1999 by Seipse.
