Suggested Readings & MoreZen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Shunryu Suzuki
The Dark Side of the Mirror: Forgetting the Self in Dogen's Genjo Koan, David Brazier The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Master, Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt, editors The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women, Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon, Editors. Everyday Zen and Nothing Special, Charlotte Joko Beck Buddha, Karen Armstrong Buddhism Plain and Simple, Steve Hagen Returning to Silence: Zen Practice in Everyday Life Dainin Katagiri Opening the Hand of Thought, Kosho Uchiyama _______________________________________ SOME DEFINITIONS daisan - private interview between teacher and student for examining correct practice dharma - the living truth, the universal teaching gatha - verse gassho - raising the hands with palms together as an expression of respect, gratitude, humility, or all three han - a wooden implement used as a signal jisha - attendant jitsu - supervisor of the zendo who assists the teacher koan - a perplexing paradox that points to ultimate truth kin-hin - walking meditation karma - the process of cause and effect monitor - person who helps maintain zendo discipline oryoki - the formal meal in the zendo roshi - master teacher samu - work practice sensei - teacher sangha - the Zen community seiza bench - small bench on which to sit sesshin - a Zen retreat shikan-taza - just sitting sutras - scriptures Tathagata - the "thusness" of the enlightened state; another name for Buddha teisho - talk on the Dharma; Dharma Talk tenzo - cook; person in charge of food zazen - sitting meditation zazenkai - all-day sitting zabuton - mat on which one places the zafu or bench zafu - pillow on which one sits zendo - meditation hall zenji - great or revered master |