Buddhism in Japan: Zen Koans Berger Intro to Asian Religions

The Japanese Reception of Buddhism and Zen Buddhism introduced from Korean court in 552 Empress Suiko sends envoys to China in 607 Scholastic Buddhism of Nara Period (710-784) Kamakura Period (1185-1333) schools of Zen Soto (Sitting Meditation) brought by Dogen in 1227 Rinzai (Lin-chi) brought by Eisai in 1191 Zen a self-styled response to Buddhist corruption

The Koan (公案) in Rinzai Zen Collections of “precedents,” pivotal dialogues or “one-liners” from great Zen teachers Rinzai’s (d. 866) method of “dharma combat,” a confrontational example of “encounter dialogue” Koans and commentaries collected and studied by Zen masters and given to students as tests and meditational guides Not “unansweable questions” or “riddles,” but cues for responses that reveal level of enlightenment

The 1st Koan on Buddha Nature from Mumankan (無門關) of 1228 Joshu’s answer to the question: 無 mu: “no-’ 361) The need to reject the precedent (362( A rejection of dualistic thinking (363) The living negation of oneself and reality and yet the grasping of it (Hakuin’s initiation) (364) Differing interpretations ending in negation (365) The fundamental contradiction of human existence, having and not having Buddha-nature (365-66)

A Visual Koan: Hakuin From Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768) Can you guess the title and meaning of this painting?

for Next Class Prepare Questions for Exam Review