What does Zen mean? What does it mean to “get Zen”? What does it mean to know Zen, the state of Zen, inner Zen

From the merger Vedic And Taoist spiritual flows, a unique flow was born, distinguished by extraordinary liveliness, naturalness, beauty and paradoxicality - Zen (Chan)-Buddhism. Another (official) name is Buddha's Heart(whale. Fo Xin); can also be translated as Buddha Mind. Zen determined in the system spiritual teachings like the current in Buddhism traditions Mahayana, brought to China by the monk Bodhidharma, who came from India, and became widespread in the Far East (Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan). Bodhidharma settled in a monastery Shaolin, considered today the cradle of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Historically, Zen is the result of the development of two ancient cultures: China and India, and it is more Chinese than Indian in character. Zen (Japanese "meditation") is a creative state, the highest flowering, purity and constant elation of spirit, it is continuous meditation. Follows from Taoism, according to which the basis of world order is Tao (true path). The task of the Zen student is to find this path and strictly follow it, for the Zen man, wherever he goes, always moves towards his goal. To the Higher Self, To To the Source of Being, to the source of saturation.

From the 12th century, Zen spread to Japan and received truly creative development there. Subsequently, the traditions of Japanese Zen and Chinese Chan developed largely independently - and now, while maintaining a single essence, they have acquired their own characteristic features. Japanese Zen is represented by several schools - Rinzai(whale. Linji), Soto(whale. Caodong) And Obaku(whale. Huangbo).

Zen is not a religion, a philosophy, or a science; does not imply belief in the existence of any god; does not deal with the problem of the existence of God and, according to D.T. Suzuki, Zen is neither theistic nor atheistic. Zen does not seek the meaning of life, it is practical, it only describes the conditions for the existence of suffering and indicates a way to overcome it. The central idea of Zen is simple and amazing: every being has the nature of an awakened one. Buddha, the purpose of life is to know this nature, to know one’s own true nature and, therefore, to know oneself.

Zen is related Taoism, Vedanta And yoga. It is surprisingly in tune with modern psychotherapy And psychoanalysis, Famous psychoanalyst And philosopher E. Fromm in his book “Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis” he wrote: "...Zen is the art of immersion in the essence of human existence; it is the path leading from slavery to freedom; Zen releases the natural energy of man; it protects man from madness and deformation of himself; it encourages man to realize his abilities to love and be happy."

Zen Buddhism practices direct (without anything unnatural or external) coming into contact with one’s inner world, that is, spiritual self-development based on the inclusion of the potential of the individual’s mental activity in the process of systematic training of the mind. It is natural that many people are not ready or interested in spiritual practice. But even if there is no formed intentions By practicing Zen as a spiritual discipline, you can bring a sense of Zen into your daily life to become much freer and happier.

The two main types of regular Zen practice are sitting meditation ( zazen) and simple physical labor. They are aimed at calming and unifying the mind. When the mind becomes calm, ignorance and worry decrease. Then, in clear silence, the practitioner is able to see his own nature. However, sitting meditation is not a training in patience or anything else, but is essentially “sitting just like that.”

In general, the concept of “just like that”, “suchness” ( tathata) action is one of the basic concepts of Zen Buddhism. One of the names of Buddha in Buddhism: “Thus Coming” ( Tathagata) - someone who comes and goes just like that.

Zazen — meditation V lotus position“requires, on the one hand, the utmost concentration of consciousness, on the other, the ability not to think about any specific problem. “Just sit” and, without paying attention to any one thing in particular, perceive everything around you as a whole, down to the smallest detail, knowing about their presence in the same way as you know about the presence of your own ears without seeing them.

It is believed that Zen cannot be taught. You can only indicate the direction of the path to achieve personal enlightenment ( satori) kensho. All people initially have the capacity for enlightenment; the task of a Zen practitioner is only to realize it. Enlightenment always comes suddenly, like a flash of lightning; it knows no parts or divisions, so it cannot be perceived gradually. The Japanese verb "satoru" (Japanese??) means "to realize", and one can only realize with the help of a certain "sixth sense", which in Chan is called "no-mind" (wu-xin).

“No-mind” is an inactive consciousness that is not separated from the surrounding world. It is this kind of consciousness that is practiced in meditation, which is why meditation is so important in Zen Buddhism. There is no such thing as enlightenment that one can have. That's why zen masters ("masters") more often they say not “to achieve enlightenment”, but “to see one’s own nature.” Enlightenment is not a state. It is a way of seeing. The path to seeing one’s own nature is different for everyone, since everyone is in their own conditions, with their own baggage of experience and This is why it is said that in Zen there is no specific path, there is no one specific entrance.These words should also help the practitioner not to replace his awareness with the mechanical execution of some practice or idea.

According to general Buddhist ideas, there are three root poisons from which all suffering and delusion arise:

ignorance of one's nature (cloudness of mind, dullness, confusion, restlessness);
disgust (to the “unpleasant”, the idea of something as an independent “evil”, generally rigid views);
attachment (to something pleasant - unquenchable thirst, clinging).

Therefore, awakening is promoted by:

calming the mind;
liberation from rigid views;
liberation from attachments.

In Zen, the main focus on the path to achieving satori is not only (and not so much) scriptures, And sutras, but to direct comprehension of reality based on intuitive penetration into one’s own nature ( meditation). According to Zen, any person can achieve satori already in this incarnation, emerging from the endless cycle of birth and death ( samsara). There is an expression in Zen: " Samsara is nirvana", which expresses this idea about the attainability of enlightenment in any incarnation.

Four Key Differences of Zen:

A special teaching without sacred texts.
Lack of unconditional authority of words and written signs.
Transmission by direct reference to reality - in a special way from heart to heart.
The need to awaken through awareness of one's own true nature.

Many early Chan teachers demonstratively burned sutra texts and sacred images in order to eradicate attachment to a letter, image, or symbol in their students. One could not even talk about teaching Zen because it cannot be taught through symbols. According to tradition, this is a special transmission of the awakened consciousness from the heart of the teacher to the heart of the student without relying on written signs - the transmission in a different way of what cannot be expressed by speech - "direct instruction", some non-verbal method of communication, without which the Buddhist experience could never pass from generation to generation. Zen itself is a certain " seal of the mind (heart)", which is not found in the scriptures because it is "not based on letters and words."

Unique textual phenomena of Zen are koans: parables-riddles that do not have a logical answer. This is a kind of paradox, absurd for the ordinary mind, which, having become an object of contemplation, seems to stimulate awakening, removes the mind of the listener from the balance of habitual, everyday logic and makes it possible to realize higher values (see. "101 Zen Stories"", "Bones and Flesh of Zen" and etc.).

Zen does not accept extreme asceticism: human desires should not be suppressed, but deeply realized. In fact, daily activities, things you enjoy doing, can become meditation - but with one condition: to be completely present in what you are doing. And under no circumstances should you be distracted from this - be it work, a glass of beer, making love or sleeping until lunch. Any hobby can be a way to understand your true nature. This turns life itself in every manifestation into a work of art.

The entire Zen tradition is built on the transmission of teachings using various “tricks”: any available and, it would seem, the most inappropriate things for this, secular and other activities, such as brewing tea ( tea ceremonies), theater performance, flute playing, art ikebana, composition. The same applies to martial arts. Martial arts were first combined with Zen in the Chinese Buddhist monastery of Shaolin as gymnastics to develop the body, and then also as a way to strengthen the spirit of fearlessness. Martial arts of the East are precisely arts, a way of developing “spiritual abilities” samurai", implementation of the "Path" (" Tao" or " before"), paths of war, swords, arrows. Bushido, the famous “Way of the Samurai” - a set of rules and norms for the “true”, “ideal” warrior was developed in Japan over centuries and incorporated most of the tenets of Zen Buddhism, especially the ideas of strict self-control and indifference to death. In a combat situation, a warrior has no time for reasoning; the situation changes so quickly that a logical analysis of the enemy’s actions and planning one’s own will inevitably lead to defeat. The mind is too slow to follow such a technical action as a blow that lasts a fraction of a second. A pure consciousness, unclouded by unnecessary thoughts, like a mirror, reflects any changes in the surrounding space and allows the fighter to react spontaneously, uncontrivedly. It is also very important during a fight to have no fear, like any other emotion.

Zen ethics- not to treat something either good or bad. Just be an observer, a witness.

Zen aesthetics includes a number of separate areas: rock garden; iaijutsu and kenjutsu(sword arts) ; kyudo(archery) ; calligraphy; tea ceremony, etc.

The influence of Zen is difficult to overestimate; modern culture is filled with Zen philosophy (literature, art, cinema). The principles of Zen are reflected in the works of G. Hesse, J. Salinger, J. Kerouac, R. Zelazny, in the poetry of G. Snyder and A. Ginsberg, in the painting of W. Van Gogh and A. Matisse, in the music of G. Mahler and J. Cage, in the philosophy of A. Schweitzer, in works on psychology K.G. cabin boy And E. Fromm and many, many others. In the 60s The "Zen boom" swept many American universities and gave a certain color to the beatnik movement.

Many people have been influenced by Zen psychotherapeutic schools- such as gestalt therapy and the founder himself Fritz Perls, also known trainings such as ECT. John Enright, who worked in Gestalt with Perls for many years, in his book “Gestalt Leading to Enlightenment” directly wrote that he considers the main goal of Gestalt therapy to be mini-satori - the achievement of a special insight or catharsis, after which most old problems dissolve.

A person does a lot in his life unconsciously, automatically. It’s as if he’s not living, but sleeping. You need to be attentive to every action, every moment of this life, be able to concentrate in the moment “here and now” and observe. This observation reveals the true beauty of the world. Life turns into something meaningful, unique and infinitely beautiful. Anyone can meditate. All you need is desire. Correct meditation gives at least an amazing feeling of lightness, clarity, peace and heightened senses. Anyone who really decided to reveal the deepest secrets of life will need diligence and patience...

What is Zen? From the fusion of Vedic and Taoist spiritual streams, a unique movement was born, distinguished by extraordinary liveliness, naturalness, beauty and paradox - Zen (Chan) Buddhism. Another (official) name is the Heart of Buddha (Chinese Fo Xin); can also be translated as Buddha Mind. Zen is defined in the system of spiritual teachings as a movement in Buddhism of the Mahayana tradition, brought to China by the monk Bodhidharma, who came from India, and spread in the Far East (Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan). Bodhidharma settled in the Shaolin Monastery, considered today the cradle of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Historically, Zen is the result of the development of two ancient cultures: China and India, and it is more Chinese than Indian in character. Zen (Japanese "meditation") is a creative state, the highest flowering, purity and constant elation of spirit, it is continuous meditation. It follows from Taoism, according to which the basis of the world order is the Tao (true path). The task of the Zen student is to find this path and strictly follow it, for the Zen man, wherever he goes, always moves towards his Higher Self, towards the Source of Being, towards the source of saturation. From the 12th century, Zen spread to Japan and received truly creative development there. Subsequently, the traditions of Japanese Zen and Chinese Chan developed largely independently - and now, while maintaining a single essence, they have acquired their own characteristic features. Japanese Zen is represented by several schools - Rinzai (Chinese: Linji), Soto (Chinese: Caodong) and Obaku (Chinese: Huangbo). Zen is not a religion, a philosophy, or a science; does not imply belief in the existence of any god; does not deal with the problem of the existence of God and, according to D.T. Suzuki, Zen is neither theistic nor atheistic. Zen does not seek the meaning of life, it is practical, it only describes the conditions for the existence of suffering and indicates a way to overcome it. The central idea of Zen is simple and amazing: every being has the nature of an awakened Buddha, the purpose of life is to know this nature, to know one's own true nature and, therefore, to know oneself. Zen is related to Taoism, Vedanta and Yoga. It is surprisingly in tune with modern psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. The famous psychoanalyst and philosopher E. Fromm in his book “Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis” wrote this: “...Zen is the art of immersion in the essence of human existence; it is the path leading from slavery to freedom; Zen releases the natural energy of a person; it protects a person from madness and deformation of himself; he encourages a person to realize his abilities to love and be happy." Zen Buddhism practices direct (without anything unnatural or external) coming into contact with one’s inner world, that is, spiritual self-development based on the inclusion of the potential of the individual’s mental activity in the process of systematic training of the mind. It is natural that many people are not ready or interested in spiritual practice. But even if there is no formed intention to practice Zen as a spiritual discipline, you can bring a sense of Zen into your daily life to become much freer and happier. The two main types of regular Zen practice are sitting meditation (zazen) and simple physical labor. They are aimed at calming and unifying the mind. When the mind becomes calm, ignorance and worry decrease. Then, in clear silence, the practitioner is able to see his own nature. However, sitting meditation is not a training in patience or anything else, but is essentially “sitting just like that.” In general, the concept of “just like that,” “suchness” (tathata) of action is one of the basic concepts of Zen Buddhism. One of the names of Buddha in Buddhism: “Thus coming” (Tathagata) - one who comes and goes just like that. Zazen - meditation in the "lotus" position - requires, on the one hand, extreme concentration of consciousness, and on the other, the ability not to think about any specific problem. “Just sit” and, not paying attention to any single thing in particular, perceive everything around you as a whole, down to the smallest details, knowing about their presence in the same way as you know about the presence of your own ears, without seeing them. It is believed that Zen cannot be taught. You can only indicate the direction of the path to achieve personal enlightenment (satori) kensho. All people initially have the capacity for enlightenment; the task of a Zen practitioner is only to realize it. Enlightenment always comes suddenly, like a flash of lightning; it knows no parts or divisions, so it cannot be perceived gradually. The Japanese verb "satoru" (Japanese??) means "to realize", and one can only realize with the help of a certain "sixth sense", which in Chan is called "no-mind" (wu-xin). “No-mind” is an inactive consciousness that is not separated from the surrounding world. It is this kind of consciousness that is practiced in meditation, which is why meditation is so important in Zen Buddhism. There is no such thing as enlightenment that one can have. That's why Zen teachers ("masters") often say not to "achieve enlightenment" but to "see your own nature." Enlightenment is not a state. This is a way of seeing. The path to seeing one’s own nature is different for everyone, since everyone is in their own conditions, with their own baggage of experience and ideas. That is why they say that in Zen there is no definite path, there is no one definite entrance. These words should also help the practitioner not to replace his awareness with the mechanical execution of some practice or idea. According to general Buddhist ideas, there are three root poisons from which all suffering and delusion arise: ignorance of one’s nature (cloudness of the mind, dullness, confusion, anxiety); disgust (to the “unpleasant”, the idea of something as an independent “evil”, generally rigid views); attachment (to something pleasant - unquenchable thirst, clinging). Therefore, awakening is promoted by: calming the mind; liberation from rigid views; liberation from attachments. In Zen, the main attention on the path to achieving satori is paid not only (and not so much) to the Holy Scriptures and sutras, but to direct comprehension of reality based on intuitive penetration into one’s own nature (meditation). According to Zen, any person can achieve satori already in this incarnation, emerging from the endless cycle of birth and death (samsara). In Zen there is an expression: “Samsara is nirvana,” which expresses this idea that enlightenment is achievable in any incarnation. Four key differences of Zen: A special teaching without sacred texts. Lack of unconditional authority of words and written signs. Transmission by direct reference to reality - in a special way from heart to heart. The need to awaken through awareness of one's own true nature. Many early Chan teachers demonstratively burned sutra texts and sacred images in order to eradicate attachment to a letter, image, or symbol in their students. One could not even talk about teaching Zen because it cannot be taught through symbols. According to tradition, this is a special transmission of the awakened consciousness from the heart of the teacher to the heart of the student without relying on written signs - the transmission in a different way of what cannot be expressed by speech - “direct instruction”, a certain non-verbal method of communication, without which the Buddhist experience could never pass from generation to generation. Zen itself is a kind of “seal of the mind (heart)”, which is not found in the scriptures, since it is “not based on letters and words.” A unique textual phenomenon of Zen are koans: parables-riddles that do not have a logical answer. This is a kind of paradox, absurd for the ordinary mind, which, having become an object of contemplation, seems to stimulate awakening, removes the mind of the listener from the balance of habitual, everyday logic and makes it possible to realize higher values (see. “101 stories of Zen”, “Bones and Flesh of Zen”, etc.). Zen does not accept extreme asceticism: human desires should not be suppressed, but deeply realized. In fact, daily activities, things you enjoy doing, can become meditation - but with one condition: to be completely present in what you are doing. And under no circumstances should you be distracted from this - be it work, a glass of beer, making love or sleeping until lunch. Any hobby can be a way to understand your true nature. This turns life itself in every manifestation into a work of art. The entire Zen tradition is built on the transmission of teachings using various “tricks”: any available and, it would seem, the most inappropriate things for this, secular and other activities, such as brewing tea (tea ceremonies), theatrical performance, playing the flute, the art of ikebana , composition. The same goes for martial arts. Martial arts were first combined with Zen in the Chinese Buddhist monastery of Shaolin as gymnastics to develop the body, and then also as a way to strengthen the spirit of fearlessness. The martial arts of the East are precisely arts, a way of developing the “spiritual abilities of a samurai,” the implementation of the “Way” (“Tao” or “Do”), the path of war, the sword, the arrow. Bushido, the famous "Way of the Samurai" - a set of rules and norms for the "true", "ideal" warrior was developed in Japan for centuries and absorbed most of the provisions of Zen Buddhism, especially the ideas of strict self-control and indifference to death. In a combat situation, a warrior has no time for reasoning; the situation changes so quickly that a logical analysis of the enemy’s actions and planning one’s own will inevitably lead to defeat. The mind is too slow to follow such a technical action as a blow that lasts a fraction of a second. A pure consciousness, unclouded by unnecessary thoughts, like a mirror, reflects any changes in the surrounding space and allows the fighter to react spontaneously, uncontrivedly. It is also very important during a fight to have no fear, like any other emotion. Zen ethics is to treat anything neither good nor bad. Just be an observer, a witness. Zen aesthetics includes a number of separate areas: the rock garden; iaijutsu and kenjutsu (sword arts); kyudo (archery); calligraphy; tea ceremony, etc. The influence of Zen is difficult to overestimate; modern culture is filled with Zen philosophy (literature, art, cinema). The principles of Zen are reflected in the works of G. Hesse, J. Salinger, J. Kerouac, R. Zelazny, in the poetry of G. Snyder and A. Ginsberg, in the painting of V. Van Gogh and A. Matisse, in the music of G. Mahler and J. Cage, in the philosophy of A. Schweitzer, in the works on psychology of K.G. . Jung and E. Fromm and many, many others. In the 60s The "Zen boom" swept many American universities and gave a certain color to the beatnik movement. Many psychotherapeutic schools have experienced the influence of Zen - such as Gestalt therapy and the founder Fritz Perls himself, as well as famous trainings such as ECT. John Enright, who worked in Gestalt with Perls for many years, directly wrote in his book “Gestalt Leading to Enlightenment” that he considers the main goal of Gestalt therapy to be mini-satori - the achievement of a special insight or catharsis, after which most old problems dissolve. A person does a lot in his life unconsciously, automatically. It’s as if he’s not living, but sleeping. You need to be attentive to every action, every moment of this life, be able to concentrate in the moment “here and now” and observe. This observation reveals the true beauty of the world. Life turns into something meaningful, unique and infinitely beautiful. Anyone can meditate. All you need is desire. Correct meditation gives at least an amazing feeling of lightness, clarity, peace and heightened senses. Anyone who really decided to reveal the deepest secrets of life will need diligence and patience...

This article describes the basic rules, principles and philosophy of Zen Buddhism.

There are many branches of different religions. Each of them has its own schools and founders, teachers and traditions. One such teaching is Zen. What is its essence and what are its characteristic features? Find the answer to this and other questions in the article.

Zen teaching: direction of which religious philosophy?

Zen teaching: a branch of religious philosophy called Buddhism

Zen is an imprecise name for a religion that has undergone changes today, and it is not really a religion. At first this philosophy was called Zen. Translated from Japanese, Zen means: 禅; Skt. ध्यान dhyana, kit. 禪 chan. This word is translated as "think correctly", "to focus internally on something".

The Zen teaching is a branch of religious philosophy from the Buddha. It follows the Mahayana heritage, which originated in the Middle Kingdom and after that became known throughout the Far East (Vietnam, Korea, Japan). But followers believe that Zen is the philosophy of Japanese Buddhism, which was brought to this country from China in the twelfth century.

What is Zen Buddhism: definition, main ideas, essence, rules, principles, philosophy

After the 12th century, the traditions of Japanese and Chinese Zen found their place in life separately from each other, but until today they have maintained unity and acquired their own characteristics. Japanese Zen is taught in several schools - Rinzai (Chinese: Linji), Soto (Chinese: Caodong) and Obaku (Chinese: Huangbo).

The word Zen has its roots in the Sanskrit-Pali “dhyana/jhana” era.
The Chinese used to pronounce "Zen" as "Chan".
The Japanese pronounced “Zen” correctly, so the name and sound of this word have survived to this day.
Now Zen is a popular philosophy and practice of Buddhist orientation.
This philosophy is taught in Zen schools. There is also another official name for this religion - “Buddha’s Heart” or “Buddha’s Mind”. Both options are considered correct.

The main ideas and essence of Zen teaching are as follows:

Zen is impossible to learn. Teachers only suggest ways through which the follower can achieve enlightenment.
It is worth noting that the masters of this religion do not use “to achieve enlightenment” in their vocabulary.. The correct way would be: “to gain insight and see your own “I””, to change yourself for the better.
It is impossible to indicate one path for everyone, since each person is individual- with your own ideas about life positions, experiences and living conditions. A person must find his way in, without replacing consciousness by specially performing practical exercises or following ideas.
Human language, images and words are meaningless. With their help it is impossible to achieve insight. This state will become accessible thanks to traditional Zen methodological instructions and even external stimuli - a sharp scream, a strong blow, and so on.

The principles of Zen Buddhism are based on four truths:

Life is suffering. When a person understands this, he will take everything for granted. People are imperfect and the world is not perfect. If you want to achieve Zen, then you have to accept it. Buddha recognized this and accepted it. He realized that a person has to go through a lot during life: suffering, illness, deprivation, unpleasant situations, grief, pain.

The following 3 truths lie in desires:

Desire for affection. The Buddha argued that the main cause of psycho-emotional disorder is attachment to one's desires. If we can’t get something, then life is not nice to us. But you shouldn’t get angry and irritated because of this, you need to accept it.
The end of suffering. If you get rid of attachment to desires and free yourself from torment, then the mind will be cleared of worries and worries. This state of mind is called nirvana in Sanskrit.
Walking the path to the end of suffering. Nirvana is easy to achieve if you lead a measured life. Follow the Eightfold Path, which represents self-improvement in your desires.

A teacher must see his own nature in order to teach this to his students. In addition, he must see the real state of the student. Only in this way will the master be able to give the right advice and instructions for the push of awakening.

Philosophy of Zen Buddhism consists of the doctrine of three poisons. It is because of them that all the troubles, torment and delusions appear in a person’s life. Such evils include the following:

Man does not understand his nature- the mind is clouded, there is a constant restless internal state, and even dullness appears.
There is an aversion to specific situations, things- presentation of something as an independent evil, rigid views on life.
Excessive affection- to something pleasant, clinging to unnecessary things in this life.

Therefore, the rules of Zen Buddhism are:

Calm your mind. Be calmer, don’t get nervous over trifles, so that life can flow peacefully and smoothly.
Free yourself from rigid views. Understand that man creates evil around himself with his own hands. If we look at life differently, then everything around us will change.
Free yourself from attachment. Understand that little is good, otherwise life will lose its taste and bright colors. There should not be an unquenchable thirst for pleasant things. Everything good in moderation.

Students are given different advice, but such that they are understandable to a specific person. For example:

Practice meditation to calm and calm your mind. At the same time, try and follow all the teacher’s advice.
Don't try to achieve peace and enlightenment, but let go of everything that happens around you.

Followers of Zen practice do a lot of sitting meditation and do simple work. This could be growing some crops in the mountains or regular cleaning. The main goal is to calm your mind and unify your thoughts. Then the self-churning stops, the clouding of the mind disappears (Zen masters believe that modern people all have a clouded mind) and the restless state stabilizes. After enlightenment, it is easier to see your natural essence.

Japanese and Chinese Zen: are they the same thing?

Japanese or Chinese Zen

Japanese and Chinese Zen are one and the same, but with their own distinctive features.

Chan Buddhism is what the Chinese call the Zen religion.. Many followers at the beginning of their path cannot understand Chan Buddhism. It seems that this is something unattainable, irrational and even mystical. But Zen insight is endowed with universal characteristics.

Zen's influence on Japanese cultural heritage makes us recognize this school as important and relevant in the study of the ideas of Zen Buddhism. It helps to reveal the ways of development of philosophy and thought.

Psychological aspects, psychotherapy of Zen Buddhism: practice

Psychotherapy of Zen Buddhism

To achieve satori, a person should not just sit under a Bo tree and wait for indulgence and enlightenment. A special relationship is built with the master and a specific system of procedures is carried out. Therefore, the psychological aspects and psychotherapy of Zen Buddhism are important to free the individual for spiritual development.

Many psychologists use the principles of Zen Buddhism in their practice.
A psychologist who is inspired by Zen ideas and is familiar with them first-hand is especially good.
People are complex by nature. Someone has obsessive ideas of taking revenge on another person, another strives to get to the future faster or, conversely, is worried about what might happen, and the third is absorbed in his past.
A person himself may repeat actions that cause him trouble, but in the subconscious and in words, he wants to break out of this circle.

Zen psychology shows that all these attachments and fixations interfere with living and experiencing the present. The real and correct Zen path will lead to enlightenment and a person’s correct awareness of existence.

Zen Buddhism as a philosophy and art of life: examples

Zen Buddhism - philosophy and art of life

The main goal of Zen Buddhism is to achieve enlightenment or satori. For Europeans, such a philosophy and art of life as Zen is something unattainable. But there is nothing supernatural in this teaching. These are ordinary skills that are honed to perfection by Zen masters.

Here are examples of such art of living:

A mentor talks to his student:

-Are you affirmed in the truth?
- Yes, master.
- What are you doing to educate yourself?
- I eat when I'm hungry and go to bed when I'm tired.
- But every person does this. It turns out that you don’t educate yourself, but live the same way as other people?
- No.
- Why?
- Because when eating food they are not busy eating, but are distracted by conversations and other foreign objects; when they rest, they do not fall asleep at all, but dream a lot and even experience emotions in their sleep. Therefore they are not like me.

Explaining this example-parable, we can say that ordinary people experience constant fear and mixed feelings of self-doubt, and also live in an illusionary world, not the real one. People think they are tasting and feeling something rather than actually experiencing all the emotions.

Another example of Zen philosophy is revealed in another parable:

The master of this teaching tells about himself: “When I had not yet learned Zen, rivers were rivers for me, and mountains were mountains. With the first knowledge of Zen, rivers ceased to be rivers and mountains ceased to be mountains. When I fully comprehended the teaching and became a teacher myself, the rivers became rivers again, and the mountains became mountains.”

This is evidence that after enlightenment, what is here and now begins to be perceived differently. We take shadows for plausible things, and being in the dark at this time, it is impossible to know the light. For Zen, it is important that a person knows himself from the inside, and not with his mind. Zen must penetrate into the depths of the human soul and his being.

What does it mean to know Zen, the state of Zen, the inner Zen?

Among people you can hear: "I learned Zen". What does it mean to know Zen, the state of Zen, the inner Zen? It means: "a state of constant meditation" And "absolute unruffled mind". But if a person talks about this and even claims that he knows what Zen is, then he lives deceived. Learning the essence of Zen is given only to selected people, and the teachings of this philosophy are structured in such a way that a person will not talk about himself in such a way.

The Zen state is peace from within, a bright mind and soul. Zen within a person is equanimity. A person who has learned Zen cannot be thrown out of balance. In addition, he can independently help his opponent find inner peace.

How to achieve a Zen state?

Entering a state of Zen is not a game at all. The follower focuses on his everyday position in life. To achieve a state of zen, everything around you must be in alignment.

Harmony in everything is the most important thing.
You are confident and know that you can achieve it.
All the problems around disappear, a special energy fills the world around us. Something ideal appears that helps solve problems.
Your skills match the tasks- everything works out harmoniously. For people who are familiar with sports, this moment is called “being in the zone.” In science, this process is called “flow.”
You should feel like you're in a dream. In the “flow” time and consciousness are lost. You seem to dissolve in everything around you. It is easier for a child to enter a state of Zen, but for adults it is more difficult. They understand the definition of time. But it is more difficult for a small person with his unstable psyche to break back into transience, so for a child the Zen state can be dangerous.

When you get into a Zen state, you will realize that you don't need to plan anything. It is the habit of outlining different plans that “stifles” creativity in each of us. There is nothing more awakening and tonic than being in the “flow”, a specially created “zone” or “white moment” by your mind.

What is Zen meditation?

Zen meditation is a meditative relaxation technique from the Buddha. It is the most popular technique in the world - it is the heart of Buddhist teachings. The benefits of Zen meditation include the following:

Teaching good concentration
Possibility of self-knowledge
Getting peace and joy
Improved health
Emergence of willpower
Increasing internal energy

Warning: If you do everything right, an emotional storm will occur inside you. This condition can occur after several days or weeks of practice. Your suppressed emotions will rise up into consciousness. At this moment, it is important not to fight them, but to give them the opportunity to splash out. After this, peace, clarity of mind and joy will come.

Techniques for performing Zen meditation:

There are two main techniques of Zen meditation: intermediate and advanced:

Two Basic Zen Meditation Techniques

Advice: Don't try to realize the secret of Zen artificially. Don't get caught up in inhaling and exhaling. The most important thing will happen between these processes: the secrets of the Universe will be revealed, you will know yourself, and so on. Just meditate properly and everything will happen naturally.

What is the difference between Zen Buddhism and Buddhism: differences, differences, features

Regarding the understanding of Zen Buddhism, it is worth noting that if you try to understand, it will not be Zen Buddhism. A person must comprehend reality as it is. If we talk about the differences between Zen Buddhism and Buddhism, then there is no difference, since such practice is Buddhism. All Buddhist practices are divided into:

Samathi- calming the mind and body, understanding peace and tranquility.
Vipassana- allows you to observe the emergence of mental phenomena. A person discovers something new for himself in feelings, thoughts, emotions.

All Buddhist practices help the mind to get rid of suffering, free itself from wrong views, and cultivate a correct worldview. Zen simply helps to acquire important elements of correct thinking and lifestyle, eliminating the destruction of the mind. There is no need to follow the rules, it is important to understand the world order. In Buddhist practice there are no rules, assumptions, or hypotheses. If a person learns to comprehend Zen, then he will get rid of delusions and will live in peace and tranquility.

Symbols of Zen Buddhism and their meaning: photo

Buddhism, like Zen Buddhism, has many different symbols. But in Zen the most important and significant is considered Enso- circle of enlightenment and freedom. This symbol of Zen Buddhism is made in the form of tattoos, painted on the walls of houses, especially in China and Japan, and interiors are decorated with its image.

Enso means enlightenment, strength, grace, emptiness, universe. The circle itself is continuous karmic rebirth, and the internal space is a sign of liberation from life’s hardships.

Zen Buddhism Symbol

This symbol can be depicted with a lotus flower inside, as evidence that a person has become whiter, more majestic and inseparable from nature - peaceful and calm.

Zen Buddhism symbols with lotus

Actually in a circle Enso You can depict symbols or even Buddha. It will still have the correct meaning of Zen - enlightenment, purification and peace.

Zen Buddhism Koans: Examples

Zen Buddhist koans are short narratives with questions and dialogues. They may not have logic, but they will be understandable to a person who wants to know Zen. The purpose of the koan is to create a psychological impulse for the student to understand and achieve enlightenment. This is a kind of parable, but the koan does not need to be translated or understood, it serves to understand the true reality.

Here are examples of koans:

Zen Buddhism Koans: Examples

Zen Buddhism Koan: An Example

Zen Buddhism Koan

Don't try to understand Zen Buddhism. It must be inside you, it is your true essence. Practice self-discipline, experience the joy of existence, believe, accept, and then you will be able to comprehend Zen and accept it into yourself.

Video: Conversation with Zen Master Jinen about truth and meditation

Hello dear readers of the site! Today, every Internet user has the opportunity to publish their thoughts, useful information, news and any other content that will be read by other online visitors.

Therefore, in this post we will talk about the new and modern Yandex.Zen service, with the help of which authors will be able to increase the number of readers of their sites, brands will be able to promote their own products, and online publications will have the opportunity to demonstrate their best content. And ordinary copywriters will be able to earn money if they create a feed there and publish unique content every day.

So let's take a closer look at what Yandex Zen is, how it works, what features it offers, and so on.

What is Yandex Zen and how it works

Yandex Zen is an individual recommendation service created by Yandex in 2017.

The program's job is to track and analyze the user's preferences, as a result of which each client gets the opportunity to view only the information that interests him.

The service is available not only in the browser version, but a mobile client has also been developed. The program refers to applications in which artificial intelligence is built in, aimed at working with the client.

In simple language, the Yandex Zen service is an intellectual database that collects information about sites visited by the user; the program also analyzes the interests specified by the client and, based on this, produces news and articles available on the Internet.

It is worth noting that the feed will show not only those pages that were previously opened, but also new ones.

If you are interested in any news, you need to click on it, after which the publication will be opened in a new tab. To update the feed, you need to click on the “More cards” button or the F5 key.

As you already understand, anyone can start running their own channel in Zen and get paid for it, the main thing is not to violate the rules of the service.

So, to create a channel you need:

Open the platform for publishers at zen.yandex.ru.

Then click on the “I” logo located in the upper left part of the screen.

Here we have to fill in information about the channel and user.

The most important part of creating a channel are the parameters:

The channel logo cannot be animated and must be in the following format (PNG, JPG, BMP or SVG). As a result of loading, the logo is scaled to a square with a side of 156 pixels. Experts recommend using a picture that has an opaque background and does not have any inscriptions.
Next, enter the name; you can use the name as the name.
In the channel description field, you must enter meaningful information about the project; with an interesting description, you can significantly increase the number of subscribers.
In the “Links” field you must specify profiles from social networks.
It is important to enter your own phone number correctly; this is necessary to further restore access to your account if necessary.
It is also important to enter the email address you are currently using. In this way, the support service will be able to contact you, and news regarding the service will also be sent to this address.

After this, you can proceed to posting articles.

The following type of content is available today and in the near future:

Video
Narative

If you want to write a standard article in the Zen feed on your computer, select the “Become” item.

And with the help of the editor, we indicate the title of the post, the content itself, add pictures, videos, links, and before publishing we indicate keywords.

Very important! You can only write unique articles in Zen, don’t even think about copy-paste. Otherwise, the channel will fall under the filter and will not be ranked in the feed.

We will look in more detail about how to publish content in the following articles and videos.

How can you make money from your news feed?

I think it will be no secret to you that you can make money by publishing in Zen. The scheme here is very simple; advertising from Yandex Direct will be automatically embedded in your posts.

And if a visitor, while reading your post, clicks on a YAN ad or watches a video, then you will receive money into your account for this. Naturally, the more article views, the more income.

Note! To start making a profit in Yandex Zen, the content author needs to reach 7,000 reads of his publications on the channel in seven days.

1 read = 40 seconds of visitor time on the page.

This is how easy it is to track it on the channel, where under the post you can immediately see how many of the views of the article were completed.

There may be problems with the withdrawal of earned funds only in that this is YAN, so it is necessary to fill out a form and upload the necessary documents, after which the user accepts the offer.

How to enable Yandex Zen

Since this is the brainchild of a Russian-language search engine, such a feed is automatically built into Yandex Browser.

Otherwise, many users do not even know that such a news feed exists at all; some think that it is not in their browser, but it turns out that it is simply not enabled. To activate the feed, you need to go to the “Settings” section.

It is worth noting that the last item may be missing due to the use of the old page interface. To do this, you need to select a new format.

After which you should restart the program.

For the service to work on a smartphone, you need to install the application or update the browser on your phone; as a result of the update, the program will be available on the device.

Enabling the service is done in the same way as on a computer.

How to disable Yandex Zen

Many people believe that they do not need this news feed, so the question arises of how to disable it. There shouldn't be any problems.

Just go to “Settings” and uncheck the item “Show the Zen personal recommendations feed in a new tab” - put a tick in front of it.

If desired, the news feed can be activated at any time.

Disabling the service on your phone is the same as on your computer.

What is Zen for and who will benefit it?

Despite the fact that the service has been operating only recently, many Internet users know about it. However, the question of why and for whom the program was created is still relevant.

For what:

First of all, to monetize content. Very often, bloggers, not seeing the positive results of their work, give up and stop promoting their blog. So, it is Yandex that helps young and promising users earn money by viewing their material, and the service also provides cash rewards for channel promotion.
For traffic. Marketers claim that traffic plays a vital role for the network, so a service that offers articles to people who are interested in a certain topic is simply necessary in the modern world.
For the sake of popularity, of course, the author who runs a blog on Yandex Zen will not be recognized by sight, but many will know that he correctly expresses his thoughts and writes well.

For whom:

For users running a personal blog. By linking his account to the service being studied, the blogger gets the opportunity to advertise certain products on his page, from which he will make a profit.
For entire companies that have their own websites.

As a result, I would like to say that despite the fact that the service has been officially operating since 2017, today it has become quite popular among modern Internet users.

It is worth noting that one group of people are the people who publish the material, and the other group is the people who read it.

Many people claim that Yandex Zen is one of the simplest modern earnings that is available to every person.

Therefore, if you have any interesting thoughts, then publish them quickly, perhaps this is exactly what readers are waiting for!

Be sure to write in the comments if you use Zen and have you managed to make money from it?

Every person who begins their acquaintance with Buddhism should know the answer to the question of what Zen is. This concept forms a strong personality, capable of a reasonable analysis of one’s actions and contemplation of them from the outside. The goal of this process should be the truth.

Zen - what is it?

Buddhism has several key principles, such as faith, self-determination, and respect for nature. Most Buddhist schools have a general understanding of what Zen energy is. They believe that it is revealed in such aspects as:

Knowledge and wisdom transmitted not in writing, but from teacher to student during personal communication.
The mystery of Tao - the nameless source of existence of earth and sky.
Denial of efforts to understand Zen: it is believed that the more one tries to understand it, the faster it moves away from consciousness.
Many ways to experience Zen: Throughout human history, Zen has been passed on completely unconsciously from person to person through emotions, touch, jokes.

What is Zen Buddhism?

Zen Buddhism is the most important school of East Asian Buddhism, the formation of which was completed in China in the 5th-6th centuries. In his homeland, as well as in Vietnam and Korea, it remains the most popular monastic form of religion to this day. Daen Buddhism is an ever-changing belief that has three branches:

« Intellectual Zen"- a philosophy of life that has moved as far as possible from religion and has become popular among artists, philosophers and scientists.
Psychedelic Zen- a doctrine that involves using drugs to expand the boundaries of consciousness.
Beatnik direction– it is known among young people due to its simplified rules that promote moral and sexual freedom.

How is Zen Buddhism different from Budjima?

The desire to achieve Zen means a willingness to sacrifice oneself on the path to it - for example, to show meekness and humility in front of a teacher. Zen Buddhism insists on adherence to a system of rules by the student, when the classical direction does not require any worship and testing in the name of religion. Zen is similar to a technique that is suitable for people who do not want to spend a lot of time on the religious component of the teaching.

Zen and Tao

Both directions originated from the same teaching, so the differences between them are minimal. No one can express the Tao in words, because it expresses the naturalness of human existence. The Zen state is absolutely real, but it can be described absolutely precisely. This knowledge is stored in the main books of the teaching - the works of sages who comment on koans and sutras.

Zen Buddhism - Basic Ideas

The depth and power of this teaching is amazing, especially if a person is just beginning to become acquainted with it. It is not possible to fully understand what Zen means if we deny the fact that emptiness is the real essence and goal of enlightenment. This teaching is based on the nature of the mind, which cannot be expressed in words, but can be realized. Its main principles:

By nature, every person is equal to the Buddha and he can discover the enlightening basis within himself.
The state of satori can only be achieved through complete peace.
Receiving a response from your own, which is inside a person.

Zen Buddhism Koans

Koans are short instructive stories or dialogues similar to the suras of the Koran. They reveal the essence of the questions that arise for both beginners and experienced religious followers. Zen koans were created with the goal of giving a psychological boost to the student and motivating him. The value of each of these stories is revealed in his decision:

The master asks the student a koan for which he must find the correct answer. Every statement is made with the intention of causing contradiction in the inexperienced follower of Buddhism.
Being in a meditative or close to it state, the student achieves satori - enlightenment.
In a state of samadhi (the unity of knowledge and the knower), a person understands what real Zen is. Many find it relatable with a sense of catharsis.

Zen meditation

Meditation is a special psycho-physical state of a person, which is easiest to achieve in an atmosphere of deepest silence and concentration. In Buddhist monasteries there was no need for preliminary preparation for immersion in it, because community members initially protected themselves from all temptations. The monks, answering the question of what Zen meditation is, say that it is a feeling of pure consciousness without content. You can achieve it by performing the following sequence of actions:

First you need to sit on the floor, facing the wall, placing a pillow or a blanket folded in several layers under your buttocks. Its thickness should not prevent you from taking a comfortable, stable position. Clothes for meditation should be loose so as not to restrict movement.
For a comfortable fit, it is recommended to take or half lotus.
You should close your eyes and abstract yourself from problems and thoughts.
When emptiness replaces mental noise, a feeling of incomparable relaxation and contentment will appear.

What does it mean to “get Zen”?

Anyone who wants to find an answer to a question that interests him turns to this eastern technique, usually in despair. He seeks to experience Zen after exhausting simple solutions to the dilemma. For some, this process is a kind of fast with abstinence from food, relationships with the opposite sex and active work. Most Buddhists adhere to more traditional ways of realizing the subtle matter of Zen:

Following the advice of the first teachers of Buddhism. They recommended remaining calm even in difficult situations and renouncing life's troubles.
Finding the source of evil. If a religious person is overcome by a series of failures and problems, then he must look for the cause of the vicissitudes of fate in himself or his enemies.
Crossing the boundaries of classical thinking. The rules of Zen say that a person is too accustomed to the benefits of civilization to know his essence. He needs to get out of his comfort zone to hear the voice of his soul.

Zen Buddhism - books

Each religious school and method of scientific knowledge has its own literary works that allow even inexperienced beginners to understand its concept. Zen philosophy also involves familiarity with a whole library of books, which includes:

A group of authors with comments by Alexei Maslov “Classical Zen Texts”. One book includes the works of the first teachers of Chan Buddhism, which touch on all spheres of human life - both in ancient times and in modern life in Asian countries.
Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind". It reveals the content of conversations between an experienced mentor and his American students. Shunryu managed not only to understand what Zen is, but also to learn to focus on the main goals.
Won Kew-Kit, Zen Encyclopedia. The book is devoted to the difficulties of understanding existence, the simplest understanding of its laws and concepts. The path of Zen, according to the author, ends with the mystical experience of experiencing the Absolute - a flash of comprehension outside of time and space.
Thich Nhat Hanh, "Zen Keys". The work of the Japanese author contains exclusively commentaries on the sutras and koans of southern Buddhism.
Miyamoto Musashi, "The Book of Five Rings". Warrior Musashi 300 years ago wrote a monograph on managing the state, people and one’s own emotions. The medieval fencer considered himself a Zen teacher, so the book is written in the format of a conversation with student readers.