Zen: A Fictional Narrative

A brief comparison between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism, both of these are very popular amongst the Vietnamese community. The word Zen has been used many times in the West, due to the hard work of Japanese culture; Zen Buddhism does not have a strong influence as that of the Pure Land Buddhism. Also in the school of Zen, "they reject claims of scriptural authority and embrace many different practices". Zen Buddhism rests on claims to an exclusive lineage that has been passed down from teacher to disciple in a succession from "Shakyamuni", or the historical "Buddha", all the way to the present day.

Soko Morinaga was a Japanese liberal arts student who called up to the front line during World War II. At that time, he lost his parents, family’s land, and his trust in the world. Soko idled away his time for some days and decided to go to Zen temples. First, Soko went to meet Goto Zuigan Roshi, Master of Daishuin temple. After his master training him with trust, he retook his trust for others, especially for Master Roshi. Also, he made a vow to his master that to become a Zen monk. Then, Soko went to Daitokuji monastery. After few days of ordeal, Soko was allowed to enter to Daitokuji monastery. Soko had hard training and became a monk at Daitokuji monastery. At Daitokuji，Master Zuigan showed the meaning of trust for Soko. Trust can be categorized into three classes: trust in the world, trust in others, and self-confidence. In the essay “My Struggle To Become A Zen Monk, ” by introduced theme of trust and how it relates to the human problem of social trust.

Zen is a unique feeling in which you are completely at one with yourself and the world around you. You feel total harmony as you whole being experiences clarity and inner peace that seem to be out of this world.

I fell in love with the first Buddhist I ever met. That is to say I fell in love with a man who is a Buddhist. I, however, am not a Buddhist. I have faith in what I find to be right rather than committing to a religion that I would not wholeheartedly believe in. It would seem that a difference in our spiritual practices may be a strain on our relationship, but in truth our faith lies in similar areas. The biggest difference between us is that I lack the knowledge and self discipline to be a practicing Buddhist. In loving Matthew I also want to gain understanding in what it is he believes. I have read through several texts in passing and find Buddhism more appealing as I continue to

The very first thing that happened in the book is that San the main character has to go to a new school but would rather stay and present his project to his class in Texas. Also as he gets his way his father ends up getting busted for having invalid licenses and working to get money illegally.

After the death of the historical Buddha occurred and his lineage had ended with Buddha Sakyamuni, his teachings spread in two main directions, southward (Theravada tradition) and eastward into China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan (Mahayana tradition). In East Asia, these teachings developed into ten different schools, several of which remain important to this day: Zen, Tantric and Pure Land (Li 4 April 2016). These schools of thought differ in many ways but also have overlapping similarities. In my essay, I will explain three underlying differences and similarities between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism and its relation to emptiness and compassion. The differences the reader will encounter will be the role of language, the role of practice, and approaches towards life and death. While there are many differences, there also lay similarities, including śūnyatā (emptiness), bodhisattva’s compassion and ono-mama or sono-mama (isness or suchness).

“Zen and the Art of faking it”, Jordan Sonnenblick, describes how in a school of Pennsylvania, there is a new kid named San Lee, an Asian adopted by 2 American parents meets an amazing guitarist, beautiful girl named “Emily Long” (aka Emily). Not only does San Lee like her, but he lies to her. As well as to everyone else. So called “Zen Master”. After a friendly game of basketball, the truth comes unraveling. Everyone turns on San, especially Woody because she trusted him since day 1.

Post-election stress and the holiday season can bring on or exacerbate depression, something seniors can have a difficult time battling.

You state that “Pure Land [Buddhism] makes itself more accessible to all”, but Zen is a very accessible school, as it believes that everyone is a Buddha – they just need to be willing to find the truths of life. Perhaps the Zen path is much more complex and vigorous, but the skills it builds are essential to the creation of a meaningful life. Patience and discipline are very strong qualities for a person to have, although it may be difficult at time – Zen offers a great reward for those who are willing to wait.

A film titled Fight Club gives the impression of violence with no peace present at all. In fact, looking beyond the superficial surface, this movie is full of peaceful actions such as saving people and suffering in order to gain enlightenment. Fight Club can be seen as a Buddhist story that focuses on a man who is imprisoned in a life of suffering and desires to find both enlightenment and peace. There are three key examples that highlight the theory that because violence is present in the film, does not mean there is no form of Zen Buddhism present. The first act of violence comes as the narrator, sometimes called Jack, asks Tyler Durden to punch him in an empty parking lot, creating Fight Club.

People can be narrow-minded and always try to look for a logical answer rather than try to go with the flow. This causes people to overthink situations by not allowing them to become open minded individuals to see the world from a new perspective. As Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki writes in his book An Introduction to Zen Buddhism shows that Zen is an experience that gets in touch with a person's inner spirit. So that one can reach this inner spiritual experience they must reach satori-a flash of enlightenment to understand what Zen is. There is no series of events that one must perform to understand the Zen practices because understanding must come from personal experience. No amount of literature, lessons, or contemplation will make someone understand

Zen Buddhism is an inspiration which comes from personal experience to perceive the meaning of life. It has often been seen mysterious. In the book, An Introduction of Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki points out that Zen is hard to understand and explain. In addition, he argues that Zen is not a religion, belief, knowledge, dogma, or an idea. It disdains logical thinking. Since Zen had never wasted time and effort to explains, Zen is hard to understand well. In the other word, Zen looks nihilistic because in the world of Zen knowing is unknown, and unknown is knowing; although, it seems contradictory, but it is the true meaning of Zen. In chapter three, Is Zen Nihilistic, D.T. Suzuki explains that Zen have jumped out the normal logical thinking to teach people thinking the fact. Consequently, in Chapter 3 entitled,“Is Zen Nihilistic?” D.T.

The forefather of Madhyamika Buddhism was Nagarjuna. T.P. Kasulis writes in his book, Zen Action, Zen Person that Nagarjuna was a predecessor to the development of Zen Buddhism. Nagarjuna is regarded though as a patriarch of the Zen tradition. He was the affecting principle to demonstrate logically the "emptiness", or rather sunyata of philosophical distinctions. Kasulis also explores Nagarjuna's "Logic of Emptiness."

First of all I will discuss the mystic tradition of Zen Buddhism and its various components. I have never thoroughly researched Zen Buddhism before engaging in the Spirituality and Research Methods class that is being taught by Professor Scott at Texas Tech University. Therefore a formal definition of Zen is a “: Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation” (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2017). Additionally an article I examined articulated that Zen is the most recognized form of Buddhism that has been used in the Western world. There are about 9.6 million Zen Buddhists who live in the country of Japan and this form of mysticism has spread to other Western countries over

- Taylor, John. “ZEN AND THE ART OF COMPUTING.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Oct. 1987. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.