Zen water art12/11/2023 Images of the Indian Patriarch of Zen are commonplace in Japan, and not only in Zen Temples. The Indian and Chinese influences in Chan/Zen both have strong connections to the five elements (Buddhist and Taoist respectively), ones which I am still trying to unravel in a contemporary context. Around 800 years ago the founders of the Soto and Rinzai Schools of Zen (Dogen and Eisai respectively) independently travelled to China, both bringing back Chan teachings to Japan to try and reform Buddhism there. Chan Buddhism brought together Taoist/Confucian beliefs and the teachings of Bodhidharma (known as Daruma in Japan), the Indian monk who is the Patriarch of the Zen lineage. Zen Buddhism came to Japan from China where it is known as Chan. A brief history of Zen sets the context for this activity. In order to discover more about the different Zen schools I am reading some of the teachings of the founders, expanded on below. The experiences were quite different and made me wonder how the emphasis on koans in Rinzai Zen and sitting meditation in Soto Zen has influenced their teachings. I’ve also participated in meditation sessions in Rinzai and Soto Zen temples in Kyoto and Adogawa (shown here) respectively. In my search for greater understanding of Zen and the elements I have visited many Temples. Suzuki and Gary Snyder, I am learning more about Ruth’s contribution through the informative book ‘ Zen Pioneer‘ by Isabel Sterling. Being more familiar with the writings of Alan Watts, D.T. A recent book on Zen gardens and temples in Kyoto, featured in detail below, writes that perhaps the most influential figure in opening up Zen to the West was Ruth Fuller Sasaki. For a philosophy/religion that is based on reaching enlightenment through experience, rather than being dependent on the written word, there is an enormous amount published on Zen. It has become the popular face of Buddhist Japan. Zen has captured the imagination of the west. This layout is found in other Zen temples in Kyoto. As Judith Clancy described in her book ‘ Kyoto City of Zen‘ sub temples and small Japanese style gardens line the periphery. Founded in 1202 by Eisai, this Rinzai Temple is laid out in a Chinese style grid pattern on a north-south axis. This garden is located at Kennin-ji, the oldest of Kyoto’s Zen temples. Dry landscape gardens where sand and rock feature have become a hallmark of Zen.
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