Bodhisattva
An awakened or enlightened being who renounces the experience of nirvana in order to remain with unenlightened beings and to work for the liberation of all. The bodhisattva ideal is closely associated with Mahayana Buddhism.
Ch’an
The Chinese word for Zen. The word ch’an predates the Japanese word Zen, of course, since Zen originated in China and came to Japan later.
Ch’an
The Chinese word for Zen. The word ch’an predates the Japanese word Zen, of course, since Zen originated in China and came to Japan later.
Desnho
The large bell hanging outside of the zendo, used to announce the time for services and ceremonies.
Dharma
The dharma (almost as difficult to define as Zen) is thought of variously as the Way, the Path, Cosmic Law and Universal Truth. The dharma is often thought of as the teachings of the Buddha, and this is a legitimate view, but it’s important to note that the Buddha didn’t create the dharma; it was always there. While the ethical standards of Buddhism are included, the dharma encompasses far more than that. It is the fundamental spirit underlying Zen and Buddhism.
Dōan
This the Sōtō Zen term for one who rings bells in the zendo. At AZC, our dōan acts as timekeeper and sounds the small bell that marks the beginning and end of each period of zazen. The ōan also rings the small and large bells during service and ceremonies and uses wooden clappers to begin and end kinhin (walking meditation).
Dōan-ryo
The group of people who serve in temple roles, including the dōan, the fukudo, the chiden, the jiko, and the kokyo.
Dōjō
Literally: the room or hall (do-) of the way (-jo). Dojo is often used interchangeably with zendo, however, the ‘way’ referred to by ‘dojo’ does not necessarily have to be Zen. Technically speaking, dojo could also refer to a room where judo is taught, for example. For our purposes, however, it refers to a room or building in which Zen is practiced.
Dokusan
Dokusan is the Japanese term for “going alone to a respected one;” a formal and private face-to-face meeting with a Dharma-Transmitted Zen teacher. A full authorized Zen teacher has one who has received Dharma-Transmission from another fully Dharma-Transmitted teacher, which confers permission to guide students independently and to ordain and transmit priests, as well as offer the precepts to lay students.
Dokusan sessions are ritualized formal meetings in which the student offers prostrations to the teacher before and after sitting down. The format and length of the meeting varies with the teacher. As a general rule, dokusan is focused on the student’s personal practice and experience. Meeting in dokusan is a critical element of Zen training and an important part of sesshin practice. Face to face meetings are encouraged (rather than by video).
See also Practice Discussion.
Doshi
The priest who officiates at zazen, service, or ceremonies by offering incense and leading prostrations and bows.
Eightfold Path
The Eightfold path was given by the Buddha as part of the Four Noble Truths and as such, as the appropriate response to and way out of suffering. 1. Right View (or Understanding) 2. Right Thought (or Resolve) 3. Right Speech 4. Right Conduct 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration
Eko
The dedication chanted at the end of a ceremony, dedicating the merit and energy of our practice to all beings, and sometime to specific persons.
Four Noble Truths
The Buddha’s motivation for leaving his home and taking up a spiritual life was to understand duhkha (suffering) and find a solution to suffering. The Four Noble Truths are the answer that came to the Buddha as part of his enlightenment.
- Suffering is all around us; it is a part of life.
- The cause of suffering is craving and attachment.
- There is a way out; craving can be ended and thus suffering can be ended.
- The way to end craving is the Eightfold Path.
Fukudo
The timekeeper who sounds the han or densho, announcing service and zazen, and plays the mokugyo or drum during service.
Gassho
(Literally: “palms together.”) A mudra, or hand positon, expressing nonduality. The palms are joined so that the fingertips are at the height of the nose. The hands are approximately one fist width away from the face.
Gatha
A short sutra. As an example, here is a meal gatha often chanted before eating:
“We venerate the three treasures and give thanks for this food; The work of many people, and the offering of other forms of life.”
Han
In Zen monasteries, a wooden board struck by the fukudo with a mallet announcing sunrise, sunset, and the end of the day. At AZC, it is used to summon participants to the zendo for daily zazen. The pattern of strikes always includes three roll-downs: the first ending with one strike, the second with two, and the third with three. The han is sounded every 50 seconds between each roll-down. Practitioners are expected to be in the zendo and settled in their seats by the second roll-down, as the Doshi and Jiko enter the zendo as a procession at the third roll-down.
Hinayana
(Literally: “small vehicle.”) One of the three main branches of Buddhism, the other two being Mahayana (great vehicle), and Vajrayana (indestructible vehicle). Hinayana is considered by most to be the oldest form of Buddhism. Because “small vehicle” has at times been used as a derogatory term by other traditions, many followers prefer to use the term Therevada (Teaching of the Elders) to describe their beliefs.
Inkin
A portable bell. Usually, it has a lacquered wooden handle and a drape of material that covers the user’s hand. Used in ceremonies and services where a portable bell is needed.
Ino
One of the core positions of temple practice leadership, the Ino is the zendo (meditation hall) leader responsible for training the doan-ryo, coordinating ceremonies with the Tanto and Teacher, and helping to care for and teach zendo forms. The Ino may lead chanting at sesshin and oryoki-style meals.
Jiko
The attendant who carries incense for the Doshi.
Jisha
The ceremonial attendant to an Abbot.
Jukai
Jukai is “giving and receiving the Precepts,” a ceremony in which lay students vow to follow and express the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts. During the ceremony, initiates receive the Precepts, lineage papers that trace their relationship to Buddha through our Zen ancestors, a new name, and a rakusu (which they have hand-sewn) from a lineage-holding priest.
Jundo
Broadly speaking, “jundo” can mean any ritual circuit or circumambulation. At AZC each morning, the Doshi begins the jundo at the Kaisando, where they offer incense and bows before making their way down to the main altar in the zendo (with the third roll-down on the han). During practice periods, sometimes after offering incense and bowing at the altar, the Doshi walks around the zendo behind the meditators in what is called the “kentan,” or “inspection of the sitting platform.” As the Doshi passes, meditators raise their hands in gassho without bowing; this joins Doshi and sitters in mutual acknowledgement.
Kaisando
The Founder’s Hall, which is the memorial building or shrine for the founder of a temple. At AZC the kaisando is at the top of the stairs and holds a memorial tablet for our founder, Zenkei Blanche Hartman, who passed away on May 13th, 2016.
Karma
The Buddhist doctrine of cause and effect. The effect of an action taken today (or the effect of a thought or word spoken) might not occur today. The effect, whether good or bad, may come to pass many years from now or even in a subsequent lifetime. The point is that no actions are isolated or independent; all are tied together in cause and effect.
Kensho
An enlightenment or awakening experience. While impossible to describe in words, a kensho experience reportedly gives one a glimpse of one’s own nature and the true nature of reality. It is said that koan work can lead to kensho, though koan work is not the only way.
Kinhin
Walking meditation. Although its meditative aspect is of prime importance, kinhin also serves the purpose of moving one’s legs after a long period of zazen, thus making physical problems unlikely. Hands should be held in the shashou position. Some schools of Zen perform kinhin extremely slowly while others do it rapidly. It has become traditional, in North America at least, to combine the two: kinhin begins very slowly at first and then switches to a brisk pace (the change is marked by an audible signal).
Koan
Originally: a public record or case. A Zen paradox, question, or episode from the past that defies logical explanation. Koans are sometimes thought of as Zen riddles, but this is not entirely accurate since most riddles are intended to be solved through reason. A student undertaking koan work is meant rather to exhaust the use of reason and conceptual understanding, finally making an intuitive leap (see kensho). Koans were originally recorded and used by the Rinzai school of Zen, but some teachers closer to the Sōtō school have also used koans.
Kokyo
This is the Sōtō Zen term for the chant leader or “cantor” during service.
Kyosaku
A wooden stick, roughly a yard long and flattened at one end, sometimes carried by senior practitioners in the zendo during zazen. Sitters may request to be hit on the shoulders to help refresh the body and mind. Also called the wake-up stick or encouragement stick.