In order to learn Zen you have to unlearn first. Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!" "Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?" If you want to know the teachings of the Zen master, you have to empty what you have in your mental cup. Zen practice developed in India as an offshoot of Buddhism. A Zen master from India, Bodhidharma of Mahayana stream of Buddhism is believed to have traveled to China where he met the Chinese Emperor Wu in 475 A.D. The emperor was Wu was deeply fascinated by Bodhidhramas teachings on meditation. When this dhyan or chan in Chinese traveled to Japan it came to be known as Zen. Zen is an abbreviation of the Japanese word of Zenna which means Dhyan or Meditation. If you want to know your true nature, sit Zazen. Zazen is the actualization of your true nature. Zazen is the mind control technique. When you practice mind control, sit in the proper position stay perfectly tranquil and do not permit the least movement of your mind to disturb you. In our daily living there are lots of distractions, both criticism and admiration. Zazen makes us to handle both admiration and criticism in our day to day life. Buddhism is to learn serenity and tranquility directly, and to practice it. For this we have to empty the mental cup which is full of negative thoughts and feelings. The enlightenment or Satori or self realization is perfect peace and harmony. You are Buddha, free from all sufferings. Zen practice will make you to realize this truth. |
