An introduction to Zen Buddhism

FOREWORD

degreesandts-pcsofsuchanexperience,itwouldnotbesuper- fluoustodesignatemoreexactlythatcategorywhichcorresponds most closely to theZen experience. This is undoubtedly the mN^stic experience, distinguishable fromsimilarexperiencesin thatitspreparationconsistsof"lettingoneselfgo"{suhlassen), an"emptyingofimages"andothersuchthings;thisisincontrast toreligiousexperienceswhich,liketheExercisesofSt.Ignatius, arebaseduponthepracticeand en\Tsagingofholyimages. I should like to include in this latter category transformation

throughbeliefandprayer, and throughcommunalexperience

inProtestantism,sinceinthisaver^'definitesuppositionplan's thedecisiverole,andbynomeans"emptiness"or"release".

The statement, characterisdc ofthe latter state, "God is a

Nothing",wouldbeincompatibleinprinciple\s-iththecontem-

plationofpassion,withbeliefandcommunalexpectation.

Thustheanalogy-ofsatcriwith\Vestemexperienceisconfined to thosefew Christianm\-stics whose sayings forthesake of paradox^-skirttheborderofheterodoxv*orhaveactuallyover- steppedit. Itwasavowedlythisquality'thaidrewdovvTiupon MeisterEckehartthecondemnationoftheChurch.IfBuddhism

werea"Church"inoursenseoftheword,theZenmovement

wouldcertainlyhavebeenan intolerableburdentoher.The

reasonforthisistheextremelyindividualformofthemethods,*

asalsotheiconoclasticattitudeofmanymasters.'Insofaras

Zenisamovement,collectiveformshavebeenshap)edinthe

courseofthecenturies,ascanbeseenfromSuzuki'sworkson TTuTrainingofthe^enBuddhistMonk,'butinformandcontent theyconcernexternalsonly.Apartfiromthet^peofhabits,the

wayofspiritualtraining orformingseems toconsist ofkoan

methods. By kocn is understood a paradoxical question,

expression or action of the master. According to Suzuki's
descriptionitseemstobechieflyamatterofmasterquestions

"Scioriisthemostintimateofallindividualexperiences." (Suzuki

:

EssaysinJ^enBuddkism,I,p.247.)

• Amastersa-stohisstudent,"Ihaveactuallynothingtotellyou.,.

mndwillneverbeyourovs-n."^Suzuki:Essaysin^enBuddhism,II,p.69.)

Amonk$a>-stothemaster,"IhavesoughtBuddha...uponwhichyou

areriding."(Suzuki:Essaysin^enBuddhism,II,p.59.)

AmastersaNT:"Understandingwhichdoesnotunderstand,thatisBuddha.

Thereisnoother."(Suzuki:Essaysin^enBuddhism,II,p.57.)