Dharma Rain Zen Center - glossary

Glossary

Here are some terms defined in the blue book Training at the Dharma Rain Zen Center.

Ancestral Line the line of teachers from the Buddha to the present, recited every morning in Zen temples.

Bodhidharma Indian monk who started the Ch’an (Zen) school of Buddhism in China.

Bodhisattva a being who seeks Buddhahood, but because of compassion renounces complete entry into Nirvana until all beings are saved.

Buddha Awakened One. A person who has attained complete enlightenment and is released from the cycle of birth and death. The historical Buddha was born Siddhartha Gotama in 563 BCE in what is now Nepal.

Burmese posture cross-legged meditation posture in which the knees and shins rest on the floor.

celebrant leader of the service, or doshi.

dana voluntary giving of material, energy or wisdom to others, regarded as one of the most important Buddhist virtues.

Denkoe a sesshin held in late spring in celebration of the transmission of the Dharma from teacher to student from Buddha to the present.

densho bell the main bell used to signal the start of zazen.

Dhammapada a book of short sayings of the Buddha, compiled early in Buddhist history.

dharani chants which use sound and phonetically pronounced syllables and are thought by some to have particular power to raise vigor and intention in one’s practice.

Dharma the cosmic law underlying all phenomena in the universe. The teaching of the Buddha concerning this law.

dharma phenomenon.

Dharma combat an exchange of questions and answers to test the depth of the participants’ understanding. (Japanese: hossen)

dhyana (jhana) mental state achieved in meditation. Progresses through concentration, joy, ease, and equanimity. Regarded as means to further spiritual progress, not an end in itself.

Diamond Sutra an independent part of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) sutra. Longer than the Heart Sutra, but short enough to be recited.

Dogen (1200-1253) — the greatest figure in Japanese Zen, who brought the Soto school from China. Known for his integrity and depth of religious understanding. Many of his lectures are collected in the Shobogenzo.

doshi The celebrant, or leader of the service.

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Fudo A Dharma protector, signifying steadfast practice in all conditions. Fudo replaces Fugen on our side altar because he was the ‘home deity’ in one of our line’s original temples.

Fugen Bodhisattva personifying active love, persistent training, and patience. Often depicted riding a white elephant, which symbolizes dignified but unstoppable effort. (Sanskrit: Samantabhadra)

gaitan an area outside of the zendo where people can sit while they wait to go in at a reasonable break in the schedule.

gassho the gesture of placing the palms of the hands together, expressing gratitude and humility.

gatha a brief verse used at a specific time as an aid to mindfulness.

godo at DRZC, Director of Teaching; administrative head of the Teaching side of the Mandala of Organization.

haishiki “bowing place” — the mat in front of the altar on which the celebrant (doshi) bows, sits or stands during ceremonies.

Heart Sutra Scripture of Great Wisdom. One of the most important sutras of Mahayana Buddhism, recited in almost all schools. A condensation in 25 lines of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) literature.

Hinayana “small vehicle” — somewhat pejorative reference to an approach to Buddhism that emphasizes enlightenment for oneself, as opposed to helping all beings attain awakening. It usually concentrates on liberation of the individual by purification and quelling the passions. Though it is often implied, this is not synonymous with the Theravadin School of Buddhism, which is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand.

hossu ceremonial object modeled on the fly-whisk used to sweep insects out of a wandering monk’s path. It is made of horse hair attached to a wooden handle.

inkin a small bowl-shaped bell on a wooden handle, used to signal movement such as bows and kinhin.

ino the disciplinarian in a temple, charged with supervising and leading ceremonies.

Jatakas “Birth Stories” — a collection of folk tales and animal fables told as previous lives of the Buddha, in which various virtues are illustrated.

jisha personal attendant to a priest or teacher; attendant to the celebrant during service.

jikko an assistant jisha.

Jukai Receiving the Precepts. Ceremonial initiation into Buddhism, when a person agrees to take the Precepts as his or her own, and takes refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

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kalpa a time period of very long duration. An “age” or “eternity”. From Indian philosophy.

kanin at DRZC, Director of Operations; administrative head of the Operations side of the Mandala of Organization.

Kanzeon (Kannon) Bodhisattva personifying compassion. Venerated as a helper of all sentient beings. (Chinese: Kwan Yin; Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara)

karma “deed” — the law of cause and effect in the realm of actions and intentions.

kensho “seeing one’s own true nature” — a time-limited experience of awakening to true reality, a glimpse of enlightenment.

kesa traditional Buddhist monk’s robe, in Zen somewhat resembling a shawl, worn over one shoulder.

kinhin walking meditation, often done between periods of zazen.

koan a paradoxical problem assigned by a Zen master, such that logical or conceptual thought must be transcended in order to solve it. In Soto Zen, problems and paradoxes arising in daily life generally provide the koan.

koromo robe with large sleeves sometimes worn under the kesa.

kyosaku “awakening stick” — a narrow, flat stick used to strike the shoulders of meditators to stimulate and relax the muscles.

Lay Discipleship ceremony in which the student takes a teacher and becomes affiliated with a teaching lineage.

lay ordination ceremony of taking the Precepts and becoming a lay Buddhist. (Japanese: Jukai Tokudo)

Maitreya the future Buddha, who will come in the next age. (Japanese: Miroku)

makyo extra-sensory perceptions or odd sensations which sometimes occur in early states of meditation.

mantra a phrase or syllable repeated as a form of meditation.

Manjusri (Monju) Bodhisattva personifying wisdom. Depicted on a lion throne symbolizing the beast of Self, sometimes holding the sword of wisdom and a book of the Prajnaparamita sutras.

Middle Way the path of moderation, between the extremes of sensual indulgence and asceticism. The Middle Way was discovered and taught by the Buddha as the best way to enlightenment.

mindfulness to perform all activities with full attention and pure observation, including observation of sensations and states of mind which arise.

mokugyo a wooden drum consisting of a hollow sphere, usually decorated in the form of a fish. Struck in time with sutra chanting.

monastic ordination initiation as a monk and priest-in-training. (Japanese: Shukke Tokudo)

mudra a gesture of the hands or a body posture having symbolic significance. Also, a pattern of acupressure points.

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Nehan ceremony commemorating the death or Parinirvana (total entry into nirvana) of the Buddha. Celebrated in February.

nirvana “cooling from the fever of the passions.” Escape from the cycle of birth and death. Enlightenment.

nyoi a scepter, usually curved at the top, carried by a celebrant (doshi) during ceremonies, symbolizing a lotus stem and blossom.

oryoki a set of nesting bowls used in traditional, silent meals in a Zen monastery.

postulant a novice who has asked for monastic ordination, and takes the form of a monk for a period of time before formal vows.

precentor timekeeper and chant leader in the meditation hall.

Precepts the ethical guidelines or rules in Buddhism. In some forms of Buddhism monks keep about 250 Precepts, but in Zen the ethical guidelines are distilled down to 16 Precepts.

Pure Land Pure Land Buddhism is the most popular form in China and Japan. It is a path of faith in which devotees recite the name of Amida Buddha in order to be reborn in his Western Paradise, which is conducive to enlightenment.

rakhusu a rectangular piece of fabric representing the kesa (Buddhist robes), worn like a bib.

Rohatsu a celebration of the Buddha's enlightenment, referring both to a sesshin and a ceremony that usually occur in December.

roshi a title sometimes used for a Zen teacher, lay or priest, who has trained for many years and whose insight is highly respected, literally “old [venerable] master.” May or may not be used in the West, depending on lineage.

sacristan temple officer who keeps the altars and shrines in order and prepares for ceremonies.

samadhi collectedness of mind. A non-dualistic state of consciousness.

Sandokai Zen scripture; the title means “Harmony of Difference and Sameness.”

sangha “assembly” — the community of Buddhists.

sanzen a private interview between teacher and student. (For information about the form of sanzen, click here.)

Segaki the ceremony of Feeding the Hungry Ghosts, done to commemorate the dead and aid beings suffering in lower realms of existence. (Sanskrit: Ullambana)

seiza meditation posture of kneeling, seated on the heels or on a small bench.

sensei teacher, literally “one who has gone before.”

sesshin “searching the heart” — a week of especially long and intensive meditation.

Shakyamuni title given to the historical Buddha, meaning “Sage of the Shakya Clan.” The Shakyas were the tribe into which the Buddha was born.

Shariputra one of the chief disciples of the Buddha. The Heart Sutra is addressed to him.

shashu a mudra used during walking meditation and some bows: fingers of left hand close around left thumb, making a fist; right hand is placed over the left, palm facing towards body.

Shastras Buddhist scriptures written by ancestors rather that spoken by the Buddha.

shikantaza “just sitting” — the pure form of zazen, in which the attention is alert, free of thoughts, and directed to no object or content.

shuso the “chief junior,” or head trainee for a period; the student who leads the other students and represents mature training and serene activity.

skandhas “groups” or “aggregates” of factors, five of which comprise a human individual. They are: form, sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness.

stupa originally a reliquary mound, it later developed into the pagoda.

sutra a text, in prose or verse, of a discourse ascribed to the Buddha.

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tanto at DRZC, head of Form; responsible for maintaining standards of temple forms and monitoring the tone and spirit of the training hall.

Tathagatha a title used for a Buddha, literally “the thus-gone [thus-come] one.”

tenzo head cook of a Zen monastery. A very responsible and prestigious position.

Theravada “teaching of the elders” — the only surviving school of southern Buddhism, which regards itself as closest to the original Buddhist practice. Prevalent today in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.

Three Refuges taking refuge in the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Taking the Three Refuges is part of lay ordination.

Three Treasures Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha — the Awakened One, the truth expounded by him, and the followers living in accordance with this truth.

transmission A term used differently in different traditions, but implies recognition of a student’s understanding by a teacher.

vespers the last scripture recitation of the day, done just before retiring.

wagessa a strip of cloth with the ends connected by a decorative knot, worn around the neck. Given at lay ordination.

Wesak (Vesak) festival commemorating the birth of the Buddha. Celebrated in May, with the offering of flowers and sweet tea to the Baby Buddha.

zabuton “sitting mat” — flat, square cushion on which the zafu is placed, to pad the knees while sitting.

zafu “sitting cushion” — round cushion used for sitting meditation.

zazen meditation while in a sitting position. (See more information here.)

zendo the meditation hall.

Zenji a title conferred on great Zen masters, usually posthumously.

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