Zen

The Zen discipline is a branch of the Buddhist religion. Known as Ca'an in Chinese it is thought to have originated in India and spread to China and Japan. Today it receives widespread attention. Unlike most religions Zen Buddhism disdains the worship of deities and rituals and teaches, not that the path to enlightenment lies with abstract metaphysical speculation or concepts of sin and evil, but that all answers come from within the individual.

Zen originated from the Indian Buddhist contemplation sects. In AD 534 Bodidharma, an aged man from south India, is thought to have entered China from India and taught the basics of Zen. The legend surrounding this great teacher is that he spent nine years sitting facing a wall to achieve enlightenment. Hui-neng (638-713), the sixth Chinese patriarch, is known to have propagated the awakening of prajna, or wisdom, which forms the modern understanding of Zen. Indian philosophical thought points out that prajna must see into the abyss of sunyata, or emptiness, through the practice of dhyana, or meditation.

Zen was popular in China throughout the Tang (618-906) and Sung (960-1279) periods and strongly influenced by Taoist mysticism. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Zen declined.

Zen was introduced into Japan in the twelfth century during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), when many sects were growing out of the popular movements of the late Heian period and the decline of the old Japanese aristocracy. The Kamakura period was an important time in Japan's history and Zen took root and flourished. A military cult rose to prominence, glorifying the sword and physical endurance. Thus came the combination of the mystical and physical: the Zen monk with the qualities of the Kamakura warrior. Japanese Zen taught that the achievement of enlightenment, or satori, came as a sudden flash of insight, a lightning glance into one's heart.

Zen branched into two sects: Rinzai and Soto. In 1191, Eisaft (1141-1215), after a study trip to China, introduced the Rinzai sect. Rinzai emphasized the attainment of sudden illumination through the use of zazen, a cross-legged position, and koan, an unsolvable riddle to heighten perception.

The Soto sect concentrated upon a more gradual satori through the zazen. The turbulent age of the Ashikaga shogunate (1338-1573) brought the influence of Zen to Japanese art, literature and drama. Zen was a perfect system for the simplicity of taste and harmony with nature that has formed Japanese culture since. The short poem, or haiku, is particularly suited to expressing satori. Zen painting is linked to an early tradition of Chinese landscape painting.

In the tranquil Tokogawa shogunate (1603-1867) appeal for Zen diminished because of an increase in rationalism and a Shinto revival, which gained strength.

However, following 1945, Western interest in Zen increased, and it is estimated that more than 5,000,000 people are involved in the religion.