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After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

Buddhism began with [[Siddhartha Gautama|Shakyamuni Buddha]], the founder, about 500 BC in Northern [[India]]. Zen primarily emphasizes [[meditation]] to realize the illusory nature (meaning [[impermanence|impermanent]], [[interdependence|interdependent]] "merely labelled" or "imputed") of the [[self]] and the [[eternal]] abiding [[reality]] of the "Cosmic Buddha" or '[[Dharma#2._Dharmakaya_-_Tathagata_Garbha_-_Dharma_Dhatu_as_Source_of_the_Universe|Dharmakaya]]'.  

Buddhism began with [[Siddhartha Gautama|Shakyamuni Buddha]], the founder, about 500 BC in Northern [[India]]. Zen primarily emphasizes [[meditation]] to realize the illusory nature (meaning [[impermanence|impermanent]], [[interdependence|interdependent]] "merely labelled" or "imputed") of the [[self]] and the [[eternal]] abiding [[reality]] of the "Cosmic Buddha" or '[[Dharma#2. Dharmakaya - Tathagata Garbha - Dharma Dhatu as Source of the Universe|Dharmakaya]]'.  

Buddhism moved from [[India]] to [[China]] due to the efforts of the [[monk]] Bodhidaruma (or '[[Bodhidharma]]') who made the treacherous sea crossing to [[China]]. The Indian word for meditation 'Dhyana' was taken to describe the heart of the practice in China and the name 'Dhyana' was there pronounced 'Chan'. When Chan Buddhism was taken from China to [[Japan]] the word 'Chan' was pronounced 'Zen' in Japanese. There are several schools of Zen Buddhism in Japan: Soto, Rinzai, Obaku etc. Another name for the meditation which is the heart of the practice is 'Shikan Taza' which means 'Serene Reflection' - a "seeing deeply into the nature of things".  

Buddhism moved from [[India]] to [[China]] due to the efforts of the [[monk]] Bodhidaruma (or '[[Bodhidharma]]') who made the treacherous sea crossing to [[China]]. The Indian word for meditation 'Dhyana' was taken to describe the heart of the practice in China and the name 'Dhyana' was there pronounced 'Chan'. When Chan Buddhism was taken from China to [[Japan]] the word 'Chan' was pronounced 'Zen' in Japanese. There are several schools of Zen Buddhism in Japan: Soto, Rinzai, Obaku etc. Another name for the meditation which is the heart of the practice is 'Shikan Taza' which means 'Serene Reflection' - a "seeing deeply into the nature of things".  

Across Zen's various schools, the emphasis of Chan Buddhism is on regular meditation (known as ''zazen'' or ''shin-ja'') and heightened awareness of 'things in themselves' through various techniques, including through the focus on repetitious daily activities (as is common in various [[Christian]] [[monastic]] communities) including [[chanting]] and [[prayer]].

Across Zen's various schools, the emphasis of Chan Buddhism is on regular meditation (known as ''zazen'' or ''shin-ja'') and heightened awareness of 'things in themselves' through various techniques, including through the focus on repetitious daily activities (as is common in various [[Christian]] [[monastic]] communities) including [[chanting]] and [[prayer]].

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Three Jewels]]: [[Buddha]], [[Dharma]], [[Sangha]]

* [[Three Jewels]]: [[Buddha]], [[Dharma]], [[Sangha]]

* [[Five Precepts]]

* [[Five Precepts]]

[[Category:Korea]]

[[Category:Korea]]

[[Category:Vietnam]]

[[Category:Vietnam]]

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