Soto v Rinzai Zen Buddhism
Soto v. Rinzai Zen Buddhism The practice of Zen Buddhism in Japan was developed through Mahayana Buddhism in China and inspired by the travels and teachings of Dogen and Eisai. Dogen who became a well-respected monk, founded the Zen Soto school with emphasis on shikantaza. To put it simply, Soto schools focus on the art of meditation by just sitting silently without goals or specific intention. Those who have faith that all beings are essentially Buddha practice the art of sitting. Shikantaza is effective illumination on the workings of one’s own mind, and enlightenment can be achieved via the discovery of self-nature and connections to all life forms. Soto enlightenment establishes compassion and mindfulness in all aspects of life, and the enlightened individual is always aware in the present, and serves in all possible ways. Soto Zen is my favorite form because it gives everyone a fair opportunity to enlightenment, and has faith that all beings originated good. While Soto Zen has a positive connotation and process, the Rinzai form of Zen has a different and harsher method. Eisai first brought Rinzai to Japan, but the practice’s most important figure was its restorer, Hakuin. Hakuin’s enlightening experience was when he killed an insect or had a “Great Doubt,” that eventually shattered like glass, and was born again. This experience led him to believe in the practice of koans, or irrational riddles from the Linji Chan tradition as the central attainment to enlightenment. Hakuin also was an artist, which helps explain why Rinzai Zen is also well known for adapting a range of complementary disciplines to refine the human being and manifest wisdom in activity: fine arts such as calligraphy and flower arrangement and physical culture like martial arts are traditional examples which facilitate Zen insight through the body. Going back to another facilitation of insight, the practice of koans involves shouting and harassment from teacher to student in order to