Zen glossary

A

Ananda

Third successor of the Buddha. He was born on the day of the Buddha’s awakening (around 563 BC – ?). Ananda means joy. He was thirty years younger than the Buddha, whom he served for 25 years.

Arhat

Ascetic

Avalokitesvara

Also called Guanyin in Mandarin Chinese. Figurative of the bodhisattva of infinite compassion in Mahayana buddhism. See: Kannon.

B

Bodhidharma

(? – 528): Twenty-eighth successor of the Buddha, originally from southern India. Towards the end of his life, he settled in China where he introduced chan buddhism, centered on seated meditation, making him the first Chinese patriarch in the Buddha’s lineage.

Bodhisattva

Literally Awakened Being. The term comes from the Sanskrit bodhi (awakening) and sattava (being). A bodhisattva dedicates their life to helping others by participating in social reality. Their fundamental characteristics are compassion and perseverance. They renounce nirvana until all beings have awakened. A bodhisattva does not change their life, they do not need to cut their hair, they live in society, they are only different on the inside.

Bonno

An illusion, a negative passion. Bon means troubling, no means suffering. The fundamental bonnos are ignorance, anger, pride, greed, and wrong views.

C

Clappers

Two pieces of wood struck against each other in temples to announce something – for example, during meals or at bedtime.

D

Deshimaru

(1914-1982), or Taisen Mokudo: disciple of master Kodo Sawaki in the 1930s and master of Soto zen buddhism in Japan. From 1967, he established the practice of zen in Europe. He is nicknamed the Bodhidharma of modern times. See the details of his biography here.

Deva

God-man

Dharma

This word essentially has three meanings:

• The universal truth proclaimed by the Buddha Shakyamuni, the teaching of the Buddha.
• Simply the truth. The ultimate reality, the cosmic order, the universal law (even before the Buddha).

• A phenomenon. As in the sentence: However numerous the dharmas may be, I vow to acquire them all.

It is the second treasure of buddhists, the first being Buddha and the third Sangha.

Dogen Zenji

(1200-1253), also Eihei Dogen: great Japanese master of Soto zen, disciple of the Chinese master Nyojo (1163-1228). After a trip to China, he introduced zen centered on direct practice – seated meditation (zazen) – to Japan. His main work is the Shobogenzo (foundational texts of Soto zen). His teaching is essentially based on three points:

• Practice without goal or object (mushotoku)

• Dropping off body and mind (shin jin datsu raku)

• Practice itself is satori (shusho ichinyo)

Dojo

Place where zazen is practiced, the place of the Way. In Japanese, Do means the Way, getting in touch with the universal, cosmic ego, jo means place.

E

Eka

(487-593): Second patriarch in China, successor of Bodhidharma. It is said that to show his desire to be accepted as a disciple, he cut off his arm and placed it before Bodhidharma.

F

Fuse

Donation without goal, without objective, it can be material or spiritual.

G

Gaku Soku

Contact, touch, right tension.

Gassho

Gesture of reverence and gratitude in which the hands are joined, palm to palm, in front of the chest or face, with the forearms horizontal. It symbolizes the unity of man and the cosmos, of the ego and the Buddha, of inside and outside.

Genmai

Traditional soup of zen temples in Japan, made with brown rice and vegetables, eaten after morning zazen. This tradition dates back to master Fuyo Dokai (1043-1118).

Godo

This term designates the monk or nun who leads a zazen session, or a sesshin, in the absence of the master.

H

Hannya Shingyo

Sutra of great wisdom, absolute wisdom and beyond. Also called the Heart Sutra, because it represents the essence, or the heart, of the six hundred volumes of the Prajna Paramita (texts of Transcendent Wisdom). Considered a recitation of the Buddha, transcribed in India between the 1st and 4th centuries, it was transmitted to China, then to Japan, where it is chanted in all zen temples after zazen. It mainly teaches the emptiness (ku) of all phenomena.

Hinayana

Branch of buddhism called the lesser vehicle, also called Theravada. Based on an ideal of purity, on a moral code, on the extinction of passions. It is distinguished from the Mahayana branch (from which chan and then zen originated).

Hishiryo

Beyond thinking. Thinking from the depths of non-thinking, thinking without thinking. In Japanese, Hi means beyond, absolute, infinite, shiryo means thinking. Hishiryo consciousness is the mind in total unity with the cosmic order.

Hokai jo in

In zazen the hands are in hokai jo in. Hokai is the entire universe, the dharma world. Jo, absolute existence. In, appearance, form. In hokai jo in there is both essence and phenomena.

Hyakujo

(720-814): Disciple of Baso (709-788, Chinese master) and master of Obaku (?-850). Known for being kind and gentle. He defined the basic monastic rules of the chan school as they are still practiced today in zen dojos and temples.

K

Kalpa

A thousand cycles of four ages of our universe form a Kalpa, or four billion three hundred and twenty million years.

Kannon

Sanskrit name Avalokitesvara. Symbol of universal love in Mahayana buddhism. The one who observes the world of the senses, the phenomenal world, and feels deep compassion for it.

Karma

Buddhism gives it the meaning of mental, verbal, and physical actions. Every action, good or bad, has a latent influence on a being’s life. The law of karmic causality acts on the three phases of existence: past, present, and future. Every act is the seed of another act to come. We reap the fruits of karma in the form of joy or suffering, depending on the nature of our acts and thoughts. It has nothing to do with determinism. Although karma cannot be erased, it can be changed. All great religious people transform the bad karma of the human species, said master Deshimaru.

Keizan

(1268-1325): After master Dogen (1200-1253), the most important zen master of the Soto school in Japan. Practiced under the direction of Ejo (1198-1280) and Gikai (1219-1309), two of master Dogen’s closest disciples. Founder of Soji-ji, one of the two main Japanese Soto temples.

Kesa

The monk’s robe, which they usually receive during an ordination ceremony. Evokes the Buddha’s robe. The kesa embodies faith. It is also a symbol of the entire universe. See also here.

Kinhin

Slow walking, to the rhythm of breathing, between two periods of zazen, concentrating on each gesture of the walk. Kinhin is described precisely here.

Kodo Sawaki

(1880-1965): See Sawaki.

Ku

Emptiness, void, existence without noumenon.

Ku soku ze shiki, shiki soku ze ku

Emptiness becomes phenomena, form, phenomena become emptiness. The object is in the subject, the subject is in the object. Ku and shiki. Essence and phenomena are inseparable.

Kusen

Oral teaching during zazen

Kyosaku

Literally awakening stick. A flattened stick used to strike the shoulders of practitioners sitting in zazen in a precise way. This blow helps overcome fatigue, eliminates tension, and increases concentration. It is used to help and not to punish. It symbolizes the sword of wisdom.

Kyosakuman

Person who gives the kyosaku.

M

Mahakashyapa

(? 520- ? 380 BC): one of the ten principal disciples and first successor of the Buddha in India. Practiced asceticism and mortifications before meeting the Buddha.

Mahayana

Branch of buddhism called the great vehicle (which is distinguished from the Hinayana branch, lesser vehicle). In Sanskrit, Maha means great and yana vehicle. Known for the importance it places on wisdom and compassion, as well as the bodhisattva ideal. Mahayana buddhism is the origin of chan buddhism and therefore of Japanese zen.

Mondo

Japanese term meaning question-answer. It is a teaching by the master in the dojo following a question asked by a disciple.

Mudra

Means sign or seal. It is a Sanskrit term that designates a codified and symbolic position of a person’s hands.

Mujo

Japanese term meaning: impermanence.

Mushotoku

Japanese term meaning: without goal or spirit of profit.

N

Nagarjuna

(100-200): Fourteenth patriarch in the Buddha’s lineage. Indian philosopher, great bodhisattva.

Nirvana

Liberation from the chain of births and deaths. Term of Sanskrit origin.

O

Ordination

Ceremony by which the disciple receives the precepts of the bodhisattva or monk. Through this ordination, they express their vow to continue on this Way.

S

Sampai

In Japanese, Sam means three, pai means prostration. Prostration before the Buddha or before the master. Dropping off the body.

Samu

Concentration on manual work, without a spirit of profit. Learn more.

Sangha

Community of the Buddha’s disciples. The third treasure of buddhists, the other two being the Buddha and the Dharma. By extension, all the disciples who practice with a master.

Sariputra

First disciple of the Buddha.

Satori

Return to the original mind. Waking up from the ignorance that makes us attribute an intrinsic, lasting, fixed, unique, autonomous existence to things and to ourselves.

Sawaki

(1880-1965): Kodo Sawaki is one of the most influential zen masters in Japan in the 20th century. He particularly insisted on the importance of zazen practice and was one of those who opened this practice to laypeople. Master of Taisen Deshimaru (1914-1982).

Sekito

(700-790): One of the greatest masters of Tang China. Disciple of Seigen (660-740) and master of Yakusan (745-828). He always did zazen on a large stone, hence his name which means stone head. Author of the San Do Kai, the union of essence and phenomena.

Sensei

In the writings of master Kosen, this term designates master Deshimaru. His disciples called him this. The term is known in Japan as a mark of respect, particularly for teachers whose wisdom is recognized.

Sesshin

Period of rigorous and intense zazen practice. Sesshin means touching the mind. Turning our gaze inward, getting in touch with the cosmic ego.

Shiho

Traditionally, a secret ceremony that attests to the transmission from master to disciple, guaranteeing the authenticity of the teaching. The true shiho is the giving and acceptance of the dharma of a true master. The transmission of the shiho defines the line of patriarchs.

Shiki

Phenomena, form, substance, noumenon.

Shin jin datsu raku

Dropping off body and mind. In Japanese, Shin is the mind, jin, the body, datsu raku means to cast off, to drop.

Sosan

(?–606): Third patriarch, in China, successor of Eka (487-593). Author of one of the oldest zen texts, the Shin Jin Mei , poem of faith in the mind.

Soto

Japanese zen school, founded by Dogen in the 13th century. In Soto, zazen is practiced facing the wall, without object or goal. It is distinguished in particular from the Rinzai school.

Summer camp

Summer period dedicated to zazen practice sessions (sesshins) and samu.

Sutra

The sermons of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Buddhist scriptures.

T

Tathagata

One of the names of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Tozan

(807-869): great master in China, considered the founder of the Caodong school of chan (which would become Soto zen in Japan, through Dogen). Author of the Hokyo Zan Mai, the Samadhi of the Precious Mirror. Tozan’s main characteristic was his independence from religious dogmas and all stereotyped teachings. Known for his gentleness.

Trichiliocosm

This would be the equivalent of a cluster of universes of about ten or a hundred million universes.

W

Wanshi Shogaku

(1091-1157): Chinese chan master of great reputation. We owe him the expression zen mokusho, zen of silent illumination. Author of the first Zazenshin, of which Dogen later published an adaptation.

Way

Do in Japanese (Dao in Chinese). It is the way of awakening, the dharma of the Buddha.

Z

Zafu

Literally, cushion. Round cushion filled with kapok, on which one sits to practice zazen. The Buddha and his disciples used zafus filled with dry grass.

Zazen

Zen practice. Za means seated. Zazen means sitting cross-legged, on a zafu and facing the wall, in a quiet place. Sitting in zazen means giving the entirety of one’s body and mind to the present moment.