“We devote ourselves to following the teaching and put all our efforts into the practice of the Way. The true practice which is in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching is nothing but shikantaza, which is the essence of the life in this temple today....”
An very brief introduction to Zen and practice
Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that was refined in China as Chan. Both Zen and Chan are derived from the Sanskrit word dhyana which can be translated as “meditation” or “concentration of mind.”
The essence of the Soto Zen School was transmitted from China in the 13th Century by Eihei Dogen Zenji. The fourth generation Japanese master of the school was Keizan Zenji who reinforced the teachings and enlarged the school. To this day Soto Zen venerates these two founders and Shakyamuni Buddha.
座禅 Zazen – “Sitting Zen” – is the foundation of Zen Buddhist practice. Zazen can be practiced at home as well as in a zendo.
只管打坐 Shikantaza – “Just Sitting” – is the way zazen is practiced in Soto Zen. It emphasizes returning to right posture, breath and awareness of mind moment by moment. We sit facing toward "the wall" in the manor of our ancestor Bodhidharma who brought Zen from India to China.
“Having regulated body and mind, take a breath and exhale fully. Sitting fixedly, think of not thinking. How do you think of not thinking? beyond thinking. This is the art of zazen.”
– Dogen Zenji
