Koans: Zen Riddles, Paradoxes, and Paths to Insight
A monk asked his master a simple question about a dog. The master replied with a single word that has confounded students for over eight hundred years. This is the world of koans – those strange, beautiful, impossible fragments of Zen that refuse to behave like... read more
Zen Gardens
A zen garden strips landscaping down to its essentials: stone, gravel, and open space. Rooted in centuries of japanese culture, these dry landscapes trade ponds and flower beds for raked patterns and weathered rocks. This guide covers the history, principles,... read more
Understanding Zen Schools: A Guide to Their Teachings and Practices
The origins of Zen schools can be traced back to the teachings of the Buddha himself. The word “Zen” is derived from the Sanskrit word “dhyana,” which means meditation. Zen Buddhism originated in China during the 6th century CE, when the Indian monk Bodhidharma... read more
Zen Teaching: How Zen Teachers Guide Practice in the Modern World
A Zen teacher is not a guru on a mountaintop. Today, they are as likely to be a psychotherapist in Brooklyn or a retired engineer in Portland – someone who has spent decades sitting still, studying the human mind, and receiving authorization from their own... read more
History of Zen
Zen iѕ a раrt of Mаhауаnа Buddhiѕm, rеfеrrеd tо аѕ “Chаn” in Chinеѕе. There аrе diffеrеnt fоrmѕ оf meditation еmрhаѕizеd bу Zen, оnе being “zаzеn.” Thе goal iѕ the attainment оf аwаkеning, оr becoming еnlightеnеd. It fосuѕеѕ less оn theoretical... read more
Recent Comments