An introduction to Zen Buddhism

ANINTRODUCTION TO ZENBUDDHISM

ofZenitself,buttothosewhohavenottouchedthecentralfact

oflifeZeninevitablyappearsasmystifying.Penetratethrough

theconceptual superstructure andwhat isimagined tobea

mystification will at once disappear, and at the same time

therewillbeanenlightenmentknownassatori}

Zen,therefore, moststronglyandpersistentlyinsistsonan

innerspiritualexperience.Itdoesnotattachanyintrinsicim-

portancetothesacredsutrasortotheirexegesesbythewiseand

learned.Personalexperienceisstronglysetagainstauthorityand

objectiverevelation,andasthemostpracticalmethodofattain-

ingspiritual enlightenment the followersof Zenproposethe

practiceofDhyana,knowTiaszazen^inJapanese.

Afewwordsmustbesaidhereinregardtothesystematic

trainingbyZenofitsfollowersintheattainmentofthespiritual

insightwhichhas been referredto before as thefoundation-

experienceofZen.ForthisiswhereZenpre-eminentlydistin-

guishesitselffromotherformsofmysticism.Tomostmystics

suchspiritualexperience,sointenselypersonal,comesassome-

thingsporadic,isolated,andunexpected.Christiansuseprayer,

ormortification, orcontemplationso called,asthemeansof

bringingthisonthemselves,and leaveits fulfilmenttodivine

grace. But as Buddhism does not recognize a supernatural

agencyinsuchmatters,theZenmethodofspiritualtrainingis

practicalandsystematic. Fromthebeginningofitshistoryin

Chinatherehas beensucha tendencywellmarked; but,as
timewenton,aregularsystemhasfinallycomeintoexistence,
andtheZenschoolatpresenthasathoroughgoingmethodfor
itsfollowerstotrainthemselvesintheattainmentoftheirobject.
HereinliesthepracticalmeritofZen.Whileitishighlyspecu-
lativeontheonehand,itsmethodicaldisciplineontheother
hand produces most fruitful and beneficialresults on moral

character. We sometimes forget its highly abstractcharacter

whenitisexpressedinconnectionwiththefactsofoureveryday

practicallife;buthereitiswherewehavetoappreciatethereal

valueofZen,forZenfindsaninexpressiblydeepthoughteven

^Seebelow.

*Zameans"tosit",andzctzenmaybesummarilytakenasmeaning"to

sitinmeditation".Whatitexactlysignifieswillbeseenlaterinconnection

withthedescriptionof"TheMeditationHall"{vndoy}.;ch'an-t'ang,Ch.).