What exactly is Zen??
(This might be longer than you want, but at least it’s accurate.) Zen is a type of Buddhism that emphasizes wisdom and compassion in the midst of everyday life. Zen appeared in China about 1,500 years ago. From China, Zen spread to Korea, Vietnam and Japan. Teachers from all four of these countries now teach in the West. At its core, Zen teaches that everyone can attain enlightenment in this lifetime. Further, Zen teaches that anyone can awaken right now – in this very moment. (While most Buddhist schools say that enlightenment can be attained, they don’t teach the immediacy of the experience.) Zen training has five components: – Direction. Zen practitioners say vows on a daily basis to re-orient their lives toward helping others. – Bows. Zen practitioners engage in prostrations (bows) every day to help let go of accumulated karma. – Chanting. Zen practitioners chant sutras daily to open their hearts in compassion. – Meditation. Zen practitioners sit in meditation to provide stability
