Zen builds upon core Buddhist philosophy. One reaches Zen in 2 ways:<ul><li>through principle: understanding that we are all of Buddha-nature, underneath the world ignorance. The problem is conceptual: our ideas and thoughts are mediated by ignorance. </li><li>through practice: without practicing. Because once you get involved in the practice you elevate the ego.</li></ul>Zen is really suspicious of concepts, words, etc. To get to the bottom of it one has to eliminate all words. To clear the mirror of our minds and let the dormant Buddha-nature shine.

2 Entrences to Zen

The history of Zen starts with myths and legends. The starting legend for Zen is the flower sermon:"Toward the end of his life, the Buddha took his disciples to a quiet pond for instruction. But Buddha had no words. He instead he held a flower silently before them.None but Mahakasyapa understood. He smiled and began to laugh. Buddha handed the lotus to Mahakasyapa and he became Buddha’s successor."This direct transmission of wisdom (with no words and abstract concepts) serves as the foundation of Zen.

The Flower Sermon & Beginning of Zen

Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He was of Indian origin, but moved to China, where he is said to have been meditating for 9yrs straight. Some of stories involving him are similar to more modern koans. <ul><li>He tells to the emperor he is not impressed with his Buddhist based policies and when asked "Who are you to question the king?" he replied "I don't know". </li><li>His disciple is also awakened suddenly after a paradoxical conversation about the nature of mind. </li></ul>

Bodhidharma, the father of Zen

The beginnings of Zen can be traced to India in the 3rd century when we have a school called Buddha Nature, which claimed that Buddha's emptiness is a gift we all share. That Buddha's nature is a connecting force between all that exists. The practice found a lot of traction in China through monks like Bodhidharma. The reason is that the interconnectedness the Buddhists were talking about matches the Tao, the connective substance, which is the basis of Taoism (one of the main Chinese schools of thought alongside Confucianism). From China, it moves to Japan, where the Zen name comes from.

Zen, Chinese Taoism embracing Indian Buddhism 

Many people come in to Buddhist belief and practice through Zen, but not many people have an appreciation for its history. In this video we'll take a look at both its more and less legendary history, as well as the internal strains that led to the development of the two major schools of Zen. 🧡 If you're getting benefit out of these videos and want to help the channel, please check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🧡 You can also make donations through: https://paypal.me/dougsdharma ✅ Books: Bashō, The Narrow Road to the Deep North: https://amzn.to/2IVodXF John McRae, Seeing Through Zen: https://amzn.to/2xsuogA ❤️ Thanks to Patrons: Matthew Smith Kathy Voldstad Pictures courtesy of Pixabay and the Metropolitan Museum ----------------------------- Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage! http://secularbuddhism.org/ Disclaimer: any Amazon links are affiliate links where I will earn a very small commission on purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of making these videos. Thank you!

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Many people come in to Buddhist belief and practice through Zen, but not many people have an appreciation for its history. In this video we'll take a look at both its more and less legendary history, as well as the internal strains that led to the development of the two major schools of Zen.

🧡  If you're getting benefit out of these videos and want to help the channel, please check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma

🧡  You can also make donations through: https://paypal.me/dougsdharma

✅  Books:

Bashō, The Narrow Road to the Deep North: https://amzn.to/2IVodXF
John McRae, Seeing Through Zen: https://amzn.to/2xsuogA

❤️  Thanks to Patrons:
Matthew Smith
Kathy Voldstad

Pictures courtesy of Pixabay and the Metropolitan Museum

-----------------------------
Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage!

http://secularbuddhism.org/

Disclaimer: any Amazon links are affiliate links where I will earn a very small commission on purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of making these videos. Thank you!

Here you'll find short videos on how to live a wiser, kinder, and calmer life. I introduce early Buddhist teachings from a contemporary, secular perspective: focusing on material we can use to improve this very life, and relating the dharma to concerns and issues of today.

I have a PhD in philosophy,  publications in scholarly journals on Buddhist Studies, and many years of Buddhist practice in the Zen and Theravāda traditions. I'm also the founder and director of the Online Dharma Institute.

📙 You can find my new book here, with a Foreword by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: https://books2read.com/buddhisthandbook

You can also check out my free course over at the Online Dharma Institute: https://onlinedharma.org/

Enjoy, and be well!