Zen is the question. It is life, it is death. Zen is experience. It is our path to enlightenment and awaking, to who one is, and who they really are. You cannot see Zen unless your eyes see though what may sit in front of them. You cannot hold Zen unless your arms are open. If your eyes are closed and your arms tucked in, you will see ignorance. The blind man can always see more then the man looking. Everyone follows a different path and this path is what teaches us to be us. Zen is what connects us to the earth in our experiences. It has come from India, the root of the flower, to China, the stem of the flower. From there it traveled to Korea and Japan as the flower bloomed into the petals. Zen Buddhism is different because Zen focuses on the question whereas Southern Buddhism focuses on the tradition.
History and Background - CJ
When we look at Zen Buddhism, I like to look at the flower from above. Siddhartha Gautama started Buddhism and is the root of the flower. It is where all of Buddhism began and the path to enlightenment was first sought after. Through the first and second centuries Zen began in china and spread like wildfire. This is the stem stage of Zen it was being reached out far and wide touching many. Then we get to the flower itself, Korea adopted Zen in the fourth and fifth century (AD). From Korea Zen went to Japan, the petal tips of the flower. This happened in about 530 to 550 AD some say. The flower does not die there it has seeds that carry us to here, and this is where the story of the flower continues.
(The Book of Zen Eric Chaline.)
Influential People - Kevin Eiswerth
One of the most recognizable names in Zen Buddhism is Bodhidharma. He was an Indian monk who spread Zen Buddhism from India to China, beginning the massive spread of the belief. He was so influential on eastern philosophies and beliefs that legends began to form of him. Although parts of these legends held some truth, they were primarily fiction. His teachings were the base for many religions that stemmed from Chan.
Another big player in Zen Buddhism was Hui-neng. Zen's golden age began with the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng. Huineng is the sixth and the last patriarch to Chán Buddhism. His approach to Zen Buddhism was a direct and unbridled approach. Some may say he is the founder of “immediate enlightenment” which is a method of reaching enlightenment spontaneously and rapidly.
He was quoted saying: “When alive, one keeps sitting without lying down. When dead, one lies without sitting up. In both cases, a set of stinking bones What has it do with the great lesson of life?” Always in true Buddhist form.
Basic Principles - Emily Southern
Bodhidharma stated, “A special transmission outside the scriptures, not relying on words or letters; pointing directly to the human mind, seeing true nature is becoming a Buddha” (Bodiford). This means that one cannot become enlightened just by reading scriptures. Zen is about awakening, and that experience could never be put into words.
The Four Noble Truths serve as the basis for Buddhism: 1. Suffering exists 2. Suffering is caused by an attempt to grasp the world 3. Suffering ends when grasping ends 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by following the Eightfold Path
Zen Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment through meditation. Enlightenment (or awakening) is true reality. It is knowing, without someone who knows and without something to be known. It is seeing the world without duality between anything. Everything that happens is believed to be the best possible thing that could happen. Nothing should be manipulated because that diminishes the natural state that ensures clarity in the world.
Everything in Zen is seen as inseparable. Human experience is determined by the internal mind as well as the external objects that the mind interprets. This is difficult to grasp because we have given everything a different symbol so that we can more easily understand it. In doing so, we have distracted ourselves of true reality. Seeing the “suchness” of the world takes away the need for anything to be said.
Zen Buddhism focuses on the present because reality is never anything but what it is at the current moment. Spontaneous action is used to practice this idea of living in the moment. Spontaneity is so marvelous because it shows no sign of being artificial and yet it is still perfectly human. Zen rejects the idea of reflection because it causes a wobbling between opposites that contributes to suffering. The significant aspects of the spontaneous life are: going ahead without hesitation, purposelessness, and simplicity.
The “aimless life” is a common theme in Zen. It emphasizes a person’s inner state of having no goals in mind. This goes back to what awakening truly is—not having an end in view. Mastering the art of Zen requires constant practice without effort because everything must be done on its own. The absence of goals and hurry allows one to fully experience the world without an interference with nature. This gives everything the opportunity to run its natural course.
Everyone is born with the capacity to become a Buddha. Searching for this Buddhahood denies that one already is a Buddha, which blocks the realization of Buddhahood. We must go on trusting a source outside of our own knowledge, but that source is ultimately ourselves, and contentment comes from that realization. There are many methods for reaching this peace of mind, but they are all unnecessary because it is completely natural.
Practices - Salvatore
Zazen (sitting meditation) “The most powerful aspect of Zen practice is the freedom it gives you. Zen goes directly to your own experience of the oneness of the universe, of your interconnectedness with all things. You learn to distrust whatever you clung to in your old sense of separation, and that realization can be the most liberating thing in your life, a freedom beyond anything you could have imagined.” (Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.).
How to meditate-
“Each time you sit down to meditate; you are reenacting the Buddha’s enlightenment experience. The Buddha himself instructed his followers to go into a forest and to sit down under a tree. In modern day terms finding a quite place in your house would prove just fine.”(Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org)
Clothing-
It is helpful to be dressed comfortably when you meditate. Wear loose clothes.
Sitting-
Traditionally people sit cross-legged on the floor with a large cushion. You can choose one of the three possible cross-legged positions: the full lotus, the half lotus, and the Burmese position.
Full Lotus-
Half Lotus
Burmese position
What to do while Meditating-
1. “Have your ears aligned with your shoulders, lower your chin slightly. This will straighten your spine and relax your jaw.”(Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.]). 2. Keep you r eyes open- “In Zen, we’re very focused on being where we are, not on being inside our heads.”(Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.) 3. Have your finger tips touch to continue the flow of energy, lay your hand on your lap or table. 4. Take big inhales and exhales, your mind should move with your breathing. 5. Think about your koan.
Koan-
· A koan is a paradoxical phrase or story that transcends logic (Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.) · Buddhist scholar Christmas Humphreys compared a koan to a pebble in the mouth of a man wandering in the desert: “it does not quench existing thirst, but it stimulates the means of quenching it” (Christmas Humphreys) o What’s the sound of one hand clapping?
Classic Symbol - Emily Southern
The classic symbol for Zen is the enso, which is known as the circle of enlightenment. It refers to the beginning and end of all things, the circle of life, and the connectedness of existence. The enso symbolizes when the mind is free to shows its true creativity. The brushstroke of a closed circle represents the totality of experience and life. The open circle represents the imperfection found in all things, and suggests to the student to stop striving for perfection and instead to allow the universe to be as it is.
Enso symbol
Important Temples - Emily Southern
The system of "five mountains" helped to order Zen in Japan. The original temples were located in Kamakura, and five more became essential when power was transferred to Kyoto.
The first Zen temple was Nanzenji in Kyoto, and it is set above all the other temples in ranking of significance.
Nanzenji Temple
Current Events - Kevin Eiswerth
Today Zen Buddhism is neither popular nor influential in modern day Japan. Attendance at the temples has begun to grow scarce, with very few new or young members attending. However in the west, Buddhism is steadily growing in its popularity and relevance. The basic principles have not changed in the transformation from eastern to western prevalence of Zen Buddhism. However, in the West, those that practice Zen Buddhism do not have to go through the culture or language of the Japanese, which is said to be a purer way to achieve enlightenment. Many Japanese followers view this disregard for traditional Japanese culture involved in the practice as a bad approach to Zen, lacking discipline and vitality.
In regards to recent catastrophes like the tsunami that has occurred in the east, what do you think the Zen Buddhist community feels towards it? Based on the principals listed above on the site, can you decide what meaning the Zen Buddhist community may take from this, or if they think there is a meaning at all behind the tsunami? The answer to this question can encompass some of the essential aspects to Zen Buddhism.
Annotated Bibliography
Emily Southern
Bodiford, William M. "Zen." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/656421/Zen>.
This article gives a detailed overview of Zen Buddhism. It includes the origins and nature of Zen, the historical development of Zen, and a list of works for further reading on the topic.
This source has more in depth information that do many of the other sources I used. The information is very reliable because it is coming from a well-known encyclopedia. The article is strictly objective. The goal of this source is to provide concrete information for those who wish to learn what Zen Buddhism is all about and why it has such a profound impact.
This article fits well into my research. While it does not include many examples, the basic concepts are clearly expressed. It was helpful to me by providing a nice background of relevant information on which I can add to. This article has not really changed how I think about my topic because I already know much of the information from all of the research that I have already done. I suppose it is a good sign that things are starting to seem repetitive because it means that the sources agree on the essential aspects of Zen Buddhism.
Watts, Alan. The Way of Zen. New York: Pantheon, 1957. Print.
Alan Watts' book gives a detailed explanation of the background and history and the principles and practice of Zen Buddhism. He takes a direct approach while providing relevant examples to illustrate his point. Watts includes many passages from sources written by people who played a significant role in Zen.
While this book was not an easy read, it is definitely the most comprehensive source that I used. The information seems to be very reliable even though it was written in 1957. Zen Buddhism developed much before then, so I doubt that the facts used to create the work have been drastically altered. Alan Watts took an objective approach and did not let his own opinions bias the reading in any extreme ways. His goal for this book was to help Westerners better understand their growing enthusiasm for Asian philosophy. Watts points out that the difficulty in communication comes from the resistance to embracing new ways of life.
This book fits into my research by simply immersing me in Zen Buddhism. I feel like I have a much better grasp on the Zen way of life. After reading this book, I am now more open to new ideas and more willing to appreciate whatever may happen. That may be a bit of an exaggeration because I am still vulnerable to the chaos of everyday life, but it takes time to have a true realization of the world. I used this source in my research project mainly to validate the other information I came across. Any conflicting views clued me in to be skeptical of the information. I have included many of the principles of Zen Buddhism that were expressed in this book. Overall, it was a very important source to incorporate into my research.
Salvatore
Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print. This book is about the introduction to Zen Buddhism. The part that I read was the second chapter on meditation and koans. The chapter starts by describing step by step how to meditate, also how to meditate in are busy western society. First step it describes the proper posture and clothing. It says to wear loose comfortable clothing, and for your posture to be sitting straight up. It also goes into detail on all three positions the full lotus, half lotus, and the burmese position. Next it talks about what to do with your head, eyes, mouth, and hands. Last it describes what to think about while you are meditating. The other part of the chapter is about koans; what they are, and how to study your koan. I found the book very useful. Everything I needed was in this book. It gave very easy descriptions on what to do with every part of your body to meditate properly, and good pictures to show how to sit. The part of the koan was ok. It gave a good description of where koan’s came from, and what to do with your koan. I also liked how it gave a list of books and websites to further your knowledge on Zen Buddhism. This book helped me a lot with my page. This book is filled with information about Zen Buddhism, anything you want to learn was in this book. This is a very good book if you want to learn a lot about Zen Buddhism.
Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org.) This website gives you the basic information for meditation. The home page is all about how and why to meditate in today’s stressful life. It has links to everything about meditation and Buddhism, like ehy learn to meditate to Buddhism today. This was a very useful source. It was a clean and easy to read website. It also had useful links to information that I couldn’t find anywhere else. The goal for this website was to teach people the importance of Buddhism and meditation. This source helped me a lot in my research by having videos on how to meditate. This is something that a book can’t offer. I would recommend it for people who want to learn more about Zen Buddhism.
Kevin
Annotated bibliography
Simpkins, Alexander “Simple Zen.” Vermont: Rutland, 1999. Print
Simple Zen is a book that gives a basic to intermediate description of the Zen topic. The book gives the description from the beginning of the religion to modern day. This book is fairly easy to read and is full of useful information. The book runs through the history while giving examples and descriptions of the events that it accounts. I used this source sparingly, not because it was unreliable but because I did not enjoy reading it enough to continue reading it for recreation.
This book is a great beginners guide to Zen and should be used to extract brief excerpts for further knowledge on the matter. I suggest this book to anyone doing a research paper involving Zen. This book has it all, the historical information, the practices, the techniques, etc. The book puts complex ideas into broken down more comprehensive sections.
This book furthered my understanding of Zen because I could look up different ideas found in other sources to learn more about them. This is a reliable source because it was written by two authors with PHD’s and written fairly recently. Overall it is not a page turner due to its fact heavy pages, but it is an excellent source for educational purposes.
Zen Buddhism. 2002-10-02. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/zen_1.shtml)
BBC’s Zen Buddhism page is a great site for anyone interested in learning basic information about Zen Buddhism. It gives some history of Zen along with some guidelines for the meaning of Zen.
This site allowed me to quickly review what I had read on other sites and in my book, only in fewer words making it a focused and quick reference. I used this source often times to relearn very quickly something I had just read.
I would recommend this site fully. It had a few pieces of information that were pertinent to what I was studying. The site made an efficient reference if I was ever confused about names or places.
CJ
The Book of Zen
The Book of Zen is a great way to enter the experience of Zen. The book lays out Zen and the important part about it. The audience of the book is any interested in learning the basics, history and specifics about Zen and Buddhism. The language of the book speaks to people in a normal way. When a harder topic is introduced it is explained well. The history of introduced is also a great aspect of the books features. Overall the book as a great help and I would suggest the book to anyone who is interested in the subject.
With a little investigation the information in the book is well expressed and common. Zen is a broad topic so finding a book that expresses multiple facts in one place is always nice. I would agree with the facts within the book. It is a newer book so the facts are up to date.
Overall, the book of Zen is a great reference for Zen and Buddhism. It brings the current facts and points of view to the table, and is well written to the general public. I would suggest this book to someone who is unfamiliar with Zen in specific, but a great facts book through in through.
Zen Stories
Zen Stories is a great website of someone who is looking to experience Zen. The websites focus is on people’s stories about Zen and show the true nature of what Zen is. Zen is best thought in a story and this is what is focused on.
There are a wide variety of story on all aspects of Zen and Buddhism making it a great site to read up on Zen. The experience is everything and reading a story about it helps one get a picture of Zen in action.
Zen is universal, thus the stories of Zen are as well. I would incorage one interested in the experience of Zen to check out this site! Learn, teach, and spread Zen makes it stronger. So read and encourage Zen!
Dumoulin, Heinrich. "Zen." The Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Mircea Eliade. Vol. 15. New York: Macmillan, 1987. 561-68. Print.
Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.
Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org)
Zen Buddhism
zen = dyana = ch'an = meditation
Introduction - CJ
Zen is the question. It is life, it is death. Zen is experience. It is our path to enlightenment and awaking, to who one is, and who they really are. You cannot see Zen unless your eyes see though what may sit in front of them. You cannot hold Zen unless your arms are open. If your eyes are closed and your arms tucked in, you will see ignorance. The blind man can always see more then the man looking. Everyone follows a different path and this path is what teaches us to be us. Zen is what connects us to the earth in our experiences. It has come from India, the root of the flower, to China, the stem of the flower. From there it traveled to Korea and Japan as the flower bloomed into the petals. Zen Buddhism is different because Zen focuses on the question whereas Southern Buddhism focuses on the tradition.
History and Background - CJ
When we look at Zen Buddhism, I like to look at the flower from above. Siddhartha Gautama started Buddhism and is the root of the flower. It is where all of Buddhism began and the path to enlightenment was first sought after. Through the first and second centuries Zen began in china and spread like wildfire. This is the stem stage of Zen it was being reached out far and wide touching many. Then we get to the flower itself, Korea adopted Zen in the fourth and fifth century (AD). From Korea Zen went to Japan, the petal tips of the flower. This happened in about 530 to 550 AD some say. The flower does not die there it has seeds that carry us to here, and this is where the story of the flower continues.(The Book of Zen Eric Chaline.)
Influential People - Kevin Eiswerth
One of the most recognizable names in Zen Buddhism is Bodhidharma. He was an Indian monk who spread Zen Buddhism from India to China, beginning the massive spread of the belief. He was so influential on eastern philosophies and beliefs that legends began to form of him. Although parts of these legends held some truth, they were primarily fiction. His teachings were the base for many religions that stemmed from Chan.
Another big player in Zen Buddhism was Hui-neng. Zen's golden age began with the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng. Huineng is the sixth and the last patriarch to Chán Buddhism. His approach to Zen Buddhism was a direct and unbridled approach. Some may say he is the founder of “immediate enlightenment” which is a method of reaching enlightenment spontaneously and rapidly.
He was quoted saying:
“When alive, one keeps sitting without lying down.
When dead, one lies without sitting up.
In both cases, a set of stinking bones
What has it do with the great lesson of life?”
Always in true Buddhist form.
Basic Principles - Emily Southern
Bodhidharma stated, “A special transmission outside the scriptures, not relying on words or letters; pointing directly to the human mind, seeing true nature is becoming a Buddha” (Bodiford). This means that one cannot become enlightened just by reading scriptures. Zen is about awakening, and that experience could never be put into words.
The Four Noble Truths serve as the basis for Buddhism:
1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering is caused by an attempt to grasp the world
3. Suffering ends when grasping ends
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by following the Eightfold Path
Zen Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment through meditation. Enlightenment (or awakening) is true reality. It is knowing, without someone who knows and without something to be known. It is seeing the world without duality between anything. Everything that happens is believed to be the best possible thing that could happen. Nothing should be manipulated because that diminishes the natural state that ensures clarity in the world.
Everything in Zen is seen as inseparable. Human experience is determined by the internal mind as well as the external objects that the mind interprets. This is difficult to grasp because we have given everything a different symbol so that we can more easily understand it. In doing so, we have distracted ourselves of true reality. Seeing the “suchness” of the world takes away the need for anything to be said.
Zen Buddhism focuses on the present because reality is never anything but what it is at the current moment. Spontaneous action is used to practice this idea of living in the moment. Spontaneity is so marvelous because it shows no sign of being artificial and yet it is still perfectly human. Zen rejects the idea of reflection because it causes a wobbling between opposites that contributes to suffering. The significant aspects of the spontaneous life are: going ahead without hesitation, purposelessness, and simplicity.
The “aimless life” is a common theme in Zen. It emphasizes a person’s inner state of having no goals in mind. This goes back to what awakening truly is—not having an end in view. Mastering the art of Zen requires constant practice without effort because everything must be done on its own. The absence of goals and hurry allows one to fully experience the world without an interference with nature. This gives everything the opportunity to run its natural course.
Everyone is born with the capacity to become a Buddha. Searching for this Buddhahood denies that one already is a Buddha, which blocks the realization of Buddhahood. We must go on trusting a source outside of our own knowledge, but that source is ultimately ourselves, and contentment comes from that realization. There are many methods for reaching this peace of mind, but they are all unnecessary because it is completely natural.
Practices - Salvatore
“The most powerful aspect of Zen practice is the freedom it gives you. Zen goes directly to your own experience of the oneness of the universe, of your interconnectedness with all things. You learn to distrust whatever you clung to in your old sense of separation, and that realization can be the most liberating thing in your life, a freedom beyond anything you could have imagined.” (Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.).
How to meditate-
“Each time you sit down to meditate; you are reenacting the Buddha’s enlightenment experience. The Buddha himself instructed his followers to go into a forest and to sit down under a tree. In modern day terms finding a quite place in your house would prove just fine.”(Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org)Clothing-
It is helpful to be dressed comfortably when you meditate. Wear loose clothes.Sitting-
Traditionally people sit cross-legged on the floor with a large cushion. You can choose one of the three possible cross-legged positions: the full lotus, the half lotus, and the Burmese position.Full Lotus-
Half Lotus
Burmese position
What to do while Meditating-
1. “Have your ears aligned with your shoulders, lower your chin slightly. This will straighten your spine and relax your jaw.”(Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.]).2. Keep you r eyes open- “In Zen, we’re very focused on being where we are, not on being inside our heads.”(Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.)
3. Have your finger tips touch to continue the flow of energy, lay your hand on your lap or table.
4. Take big inhales and exhales, your mind should move with your breathing.
5. Think about your koan.
Koan-
· A koan is a paradoxical phrase or story that transcends logic (Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.)· Buddhist scholar Christmas Humphreys compared a koan to a pebble in the mouth of a man wandering in the desert: “it does not quench existing thirst, but it stimulates the means of quenching it” (Christmas Humphreys)
o What’s the sound of one hand clapping?
Classic Symbol - Emily Southern
The classic symbol for Zen is the enso, which is known as the circle of enlightenment. It refers to the beginning and end of all things, the circle of life, and the connectedness of existence. The enso symbolizes when the mind is free to shows its true creativity. The brushstroke of a closed circle represents the totality of experience and life. The open circle represents the imperfection found in all things, and suggests to the student to stop striving for perfection and instead to allow the universe to be as it is.
Important Temples - Emily Southern
The system of "five mountains" helped to order Zen in Japan. The original temples were located in Kamakura, and five more became essential when power was transferred to Kyoto.
- Kyoto: Tenryūji, Shōkokuji, Kenninji, Tōfukuji, Manjuji
- Kamakura: Kenchōji, Engakuji, Jufukuji, Jōchiji, Jōmyōji
The first Zen temple was Nanzenji in Kyoto, and it is set above all the other temples in ranking of significance.Current Events - Kevin Eiswerth
Today Zen Buddhism is neither popular nor influential in modern day Japan. Attendance at the temples has begun to grow scarce, with very few new or young members attending. However in the west, Buddhism is steadily growing in its popularity and relevance. The basic principles have not changed in the transformation from eastern to western prevalence of Zen Buddhism. However, in the West, those that practice Zen Buddhism do not have to go through the culture or language of the Japanese, which is said to be a purer way to achieve enlightenment. Many Japanese followers view this disregard for traditional Japanese culture involved in the practice as a bad approach to Zen, lacking discipline and vitality.
In regards to recent catastrophes like the tsunami that has occurred in the east, what do you think the Zen Buddhist community feels towards it? Based on the principals listed above on the site, can you decide what meaning the Zen Buddhist community may take from this, or if they think there is a meaning at all behind the tsunami? The answer to this question can encompass some of the essential aspects to Zen Buddhism.
Annotated Bibliography
Emily Southern
Bodiford, William M. "Zen." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/656421/Zen>.This article gives a detailed overview of Zen Buddhism. It includes the origins and nature of Zen, the historical development of Zen, and a list of works for further reading on the topic.
This source has more in depth information that do many of the other sources I used. The information is very reliable because it is coming from a well-known encyclopedia. The article is strictly objective. The goal of this source is to provide concrete information for those who wish to learn what Zen Buddhism is all about and why it has such a profound impact.
This article fits well into my research. While it does not include many examples, the basic concepts are clearly expressed. It was helpful to me by providing a nice background of relevant information on which I can add to. This article has not really changed how I think about my topic because I already know much of the information from all of the research that I have already done. I suppose it is a good sign that things are starting to seem repetitive because it means that the sources agree on the essential aspects of Zen Buddhism.
Watts, Alan. The Way of Zen. New York: Pantheon, 1957. Print.
Alan Watts' book gives a detailed explanation of the background and history and the principles and practice of Zen Buddhism. He takes a direct approach while providing relevant examples to illustrate his point. Watts includes many passages from sources written by people who played a significant role in Zen.
While this book was not an easy read, it is definitely the most comprehensive source that I used. The information seems to be very reliable even though it was written in 1957. Zen Buddhism developed much before then, so I doubt that the facts used to create the work have been drastically altered. Alan Watts took an objective approach and did not let his own opinions bias the reading in any extreme ways. His goal for this book was to help Westerners better understand their growing enthusiasm for Asian philosophy. Watts points out that the difficulty in communication comes from the resistance to embracing new ways of life.
This book fits into my research by simply immersing me in Zen Buddhism. I feel like I have a much better grasp on the Zen way of life. After reading this book, I am now more open to new ideas and more willing to appreciate whatever may happen. That may be a bit of an exaggeration because I am still vulnerable to the chaos of everyday life, but it takes time to have a true realization of the world. I used this source in my research project mainly to validate the other information I came across. Any conflicting views clued me in to be skeptical of the information. I have included many of the principles of Zen Buddhism that were expressed in this book. Overall, it was a very important source to incorporate into my research.
Salvatore
Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print. This book is about the introduction to Zen Buddhism. The part that I read was the second chapter on meditation and koans. The chapter starts by describing step by step how to meditate, also how to meditate in are busy western society. First step it describes the proper posture and clothing. It says to wear loose comfortable clothing, and for your posture to be sitting straight up. It also goes into detail on all three positions the full lotus, half lotus, and the burmese position. Next it talks about what to do with your head, eyes, mouth, and hands. Last it describes what to think about while you are meditating. The other part of the chapter is about koans; what they are, and how to study your koan.
I found the book very useful. Everything I needed was in this book. It gave very easy descriptions on what to do with every part of your body to meditate properly, and good pictures to show how to sit. The part of the koan was ok. It gave a good description of where koan’s came from, and what to do with your koan. I also liked how it gave a list of books and websites to further your knowledge on Zen Buddhism.
This book helped me a lot with my page. This book is filled with information about Zen Buddhism, anything you want to learn was in this book. This is a very good book if you want to learn a lot about Zen Buddhism.
Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org.) This website gives you the basic information for meditation. The home page is all about how and why to meditate in today’s stressful life. It has links to everything about meditation and Buddhism, like ehy learn to meditate to Buddhism today.
This was a very useful source. It was a clean and easy to read website. It also had useful links to information that I couldn’t find anywhere else. The goal for this website was to teach people the importance of Buddhism and meditation.
This source helped me a lot in my research by having videos on how to meditate. This is something that a book can’t offer. I would recommend it for people who want to learn more about Zen Buddhism.
Kevin
Annotated bibliography
Simpkins, Alexander “Simple Zen.” Vermont: Rutland, 1999. Print
Simple Zen is a book that gives a basic to intermediate description of the Zen topic. The book gives the description from the beginning of the religion to modern day. This book is fairly easy to read and is full of useful information. The book runs through the history while giving examples and descriptions of the events that it accounts. I used this source sparingly, not because it was unreliable but because I did not enjoy reading it enough to continue reading it for recreation.
This book is a great beginners guide to Zen and should be used to extract brief excerpts for further knowledge on the matter. I suggest this book to anyone doing a research paper involving Zen. This book has it all, the historical information, the practices, the techniques, etc. The book puts complex ideas into broken down more comprehensive sections.
This book furthered my understanding of Zen because I could look up different ideas found in other sources to learn more about them. This is a reliable source because it was written by two authors with PHD’s and written fairly recently. Overall it is not a page turner due to its fact heavy pages, but it is an excellent source for educational purposes.
Zen Buddhism. 2002-10-02. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/zen_1.shtml)
BBC’s Zen Buddhism page is a great site for anyone interested in learning basic information about Zen Buddhism. It gives some history of Zen along with some guidelines for the meaning of Zen.
This site allowed me to quickly review what I had read on other sites and in my book, only in fewer words making it a focused and quick reference. I used this source often times to relearn very quickly something I had just read.
I would recommend this site fully. It had a few pieces of information that were pertinent to what I was studying. The site made an efficient reference if I was ever confused about names or places.
CJ
The Book of Zen
The Book of Zen is a great way to enter the experience of Zen. The book lays out Zen and the important part about it. The audience of the book is any interested in learning the basics, history and specifics about Zen and Buddhism. The language of the book speaks to people in a normal way. When a harder topic is introduced it is explained well. The history of introduced is also a great aspect of the books features. Overall the book as a great help and I would suggest the book to anyone who is interested in the subject.
With a little investigation the information in the book is well expressed and common. Zen is a broad topic so finding a book that expresses multiple facts in one place is always nice. I would agree with the facts within the book. It is a newer book so the facts are up to date.
Overall, the book of Zen is a great reference for Zen and Buddhism. It brings the current facts and points of view to the table, and is well written to the general public. I would suggest this book to someone who is unfamiliar with Zen in specific, but a great facts book through in through.
Zen Stories
Zen Stories is a great website of someone who is looking to experience Zen. The websites focus is on people’s stories about Zen and show the true nature of what Zen is. Zen is best thought in a story and this is what is focused on.
There are a wide variety of story on all aspects of Zen and Buddhism making it a great site to read up on Zen. The experience is everything and reading a story about it helps one get a picture of Zen in action.
Zen is universal, thus the stories of Zen are as well. I would incorage one interested in the experience of Zen to check out this site! Learn, teach, and spread Zen makes it stronger. So read and encourage Zen!
Chaline, Eric. The Book of Zen. Barron's. Print.
Suler, John Mi. "Zen Stories." Http:users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/zenstory.html//. Winter 1990's. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/zenstory.html>.
Works Cited
Anonymous. "Zen Buddhism." ReligionFacts. 20 Jan. 2005. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. <http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/sects/zen.htm>.
Dumoulin, Heinrich. "Zen." The Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Mircea Eliade. Vol. 15. New York: Macmillan, 1987. 561-68. Print.
Smith, Jean. The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Print.
Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
Buddhist Meditations. 2007. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. http://www.how-to-meditate.org)