Zen Buddhism, a part of Mahayana tradition is known for its “Meditative Practices”. We will explore Zen Buddhism through a twenty minutes video on “Quite Mind: Meditation for the Real Life”.
The movement called “Everyday Zen Buddhism” initiated by Norman Fischer puts this together. Fischer is the founder of the San Francisco Zen Centre and one of the first to teach and popularize Zen Buddhism in the west.
Norman Fischer believes in the possibility of "engaged renunciation", living a fully committed religious life that does not exclude family, work, and a passionate interest in the world.
You may also use Pat Fisher’s brief notes on the beginnings of the Zen tradition in her Living Religions pages 158-161!
Here below are some thoughts that you will hear in the video that you may want to use for your understanding of the Zen today!
1. “When you sit every moment is different. Experience every moment.”
“Understand meditation for being itself. Life is mediation.”
2. For a true Zen practitioner all actions are used to deepen their meditation. All action is somewhat ritualistic. Rituals are not important in themselves. The purpose of rituals is to draw one’s attention to what one is doing! It is “paying attention” and increasing one’s “mindfulness”!
3. Zazen – What is this?
“Za means to sit and zen means to meditate.”
“It is a sitting with the feeling of being alive.”
“Focus is on our sitting and breathing.”
4. Zen Rituals
Chant for 20 minutes! Why?
“Ritual – pulls us out from the mundane life.”
“We wear robes to get out of morning housecoat!”
“I am alive again!”
“Ritual and formal practices create a strong atmosphere.”
“Bowing is a ritual! It is a softening of yourself.”
5. Samu – What is this?
Two words: sa for work and mu to pay attention! Faithful to every moment!
6. Schools of Zen Buddhism
a. Soto
b. Rinzai
“Rinzi is much less rituals. … Soto there is more rituals.”
7. Doing and Work
“What each one is doing is the best. Should not compare one’s doing with the doing of another”! Why?
“Work is not a bad thing. It is a part of enjoying the practice of doing it. The proper attitude of work is one of giving and serving.”
“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment chop wood and carry water.”
8. Poetry as Practice
“Poetry is part of living! I do not sit down to write about what I know but I write what I do not know.”
Some of Norman Fischer’s poems can be read at:
http://jacketmagazine.com/33/fischer-n.shtml
Question to explore:
How do modern Zen Buddhists understand the following concepts: Suffering, Death, Impermanence and Being? Do you think the quality and quantity of our doing will get altered if our doing is done with an increased sense of mindfulness? Explain your answer.
The movement called “Everyday Zen Buddhism” initiated by Norman Fischer puts this together. Fischer is the founder of the San Francisco Zen Centre and one of the first to teach and popularize Zen Buddhism in the west.
Norman Fischer believes in the possibility of "engaged renunciation", living a fully committed religious life that does not exclude family, work, and a passionate interest in the world.
You may also use Pat Fisher’s brief notes on the beginnings of the Zen tradition in her Living Religions pages 158-161!
Here below are some thoughts that you will hear in the video that you may want to use for your understanding of the Zen today!
1. “When you sit every moment is different. Experience every moment.”
“Understand meditation for being itself. Life is mediation.”
2. For a true Zen practitioner all actions are used to deepen their meditation. All action is somewhat ritualistic. Rituals are not important in themselves. The purpose of rituals is to draw one’s attention to what one is doing! It is “paying attention” and increasing one’s “mindfulness”!
3. Zazen – What is this?
“Za means to sit and zen means to meditate.”
“It is a sitting with the feeling of being alive.”
“Focus is on our sitting and breathing.”
4. Zen Rituals
Chant for 20 minutes! Why?
“Ritual – pulls us out from the mundane life.”
“We wear robes to get out of morning housecoat!”
“I am alive again!”
“Ritual and formal practices create a strong atmosphere.”
“Bowing is a ritual! It is a softening of yourself.”
5. Samu – What is this?
Two words: sa for work and mu to pay attention! Faithful to every moment!
6. Schools of Zen Buddhism
a. Soto
b. Rinzai
“Rinzi is much less rituals. … Soto there is more rituals.”
7. Doing and Work
“What each one is doing is the best. Should not compare one’s doing with the doing of another”! Why?
“Work is not a bad thing. It is a part of enjoying the practice of doing it. The proper attitude of work is one of giving and serving.”
“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment chop wood and carry water.”
8. Poetry as Practice
“Poetry is part of living! I do not sit down to write about what I know but I write what I do not know.”
Some of Norman Fischer’s poems can be read at:
http://jacketmagazine.com/33/fischer-n.shtml
Question to explore:
How do modern Zen Buddhists understand the following concepts: Suffering, Death, Impermanence and Being? Do you think the quality and quantity of our doing will get altered if our doing is done with an increased sense of mindfulness? Explain your answer.
