Introduction to Zen Practices
Essential Zen Practices
Every Practice of Zen is unique to the practitioner. However, there are some basic practices, beliefs, and attitudes held by Zen Buddhists. However, living in New York is beneficial to those who want to learn more about Buddhism and explore the Zen practice because of its locale of one of the few 'true' Zen Monasteries in the entire country, Zen Mountain Monastery, located in Mount Tremper, NY.
John Daido Loori-Roshi, the founder of Zen Mountain Monastery and the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism, is a renowned teacher of Zen Buddhism and a profound contributor to the spread of Buddhism in the United States, New York, and beyond. One of his significant contributions to Zen Buddhism is his extensive writings on Zen training, including The Eight Gates of Zen: A Program of Zen Training (Loori, 2002).
This text is a comprehensive text of the essential Zen practices that occur at Zen Mountain Monastery, and what Zen practitioners can practice at home. However, this is merely one text that captures Zen practices. Many other texts refer to other zen practices, some of which are referred to throughout this LibGuide.
Nonetheless, The Eight Gates of Zen proffers an introduction that is graspable to any beginner. As Loori-roshi (2002) says,
For a home practitioner, The Eight Gates of Zen is a playground that we suddenly find ourselves within. We do not hae to take one step. We do not have to face in any special direction. We simply have to notice that practice can happen right where we stand; that, like it or not, it is happening right where we stand. Each instant is a real place of contact with our true nature, a place where there is harmony out of which appropriate action can arise. The eight gates are in the kitchen when we smell the aroma of the morning cup of coffee, on the street when we greet our neight or curse at the driver who cut us off at the light. They are taking out the garbage and making love (p. xvi-xvii).
Fig
ure 1. John Daido Loori, Zen Abbott and Photographer, Age 78. (Source: Martin, 2009, New York Times).
Full Article: John D. Loori, 78, Zen Abbot and Photographer, Dies
Additional Zen Practices
Through a review of several Zen Buddhist programs, guides, and books (from both the Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen), the following five practices are consistent across each text:
- Zazen & Meditation
- Liturgy
- Academic & Zen Study
- Koan Practice
- Zen Buddhist Retreats
However, there are other Zen practices for you to consider. For more information, please review the tab Zen in Everyday Life
Texts on Zen Practice
The Eight Gates of Zen by Call Number: BQ9288 .L662 2002ISBN: 9781570629525Publication Date: 2002-09-10This accessible introduction to the philosophy and practice of Zen Buddhism includes a program of study that encompasses practically every aspect of life. The American Zen teacher John Daido Loori shows us that Zen practice should include not only meditation, the study of Zen literature and liturgy, and moral and ethical action, but should also manifest in work, artistic, and everyday activities. The Eight Gates are- 1. Zazen, a type of meditation described as "sitting Zen" 2. Face-to-face meetings between teacher and student 3. Academic study of the sutras related to Zen training, other schools of Buddhism, Buddhist history, psychology, and philosophy 4. Zen rites and rituals and their meaning 5. The moral and ethical requirements set in the Buddhist Precepts 6. Art practice as an extension of Zen practice 7. Body practice as an extension of Zen practice 8. Work as an active function of zazen Beautifully illustrated with Loori's own photographs, this edition also includes a new introduction and an updated reading list.
Everyday Zen by ISBN: 9780061285899Publication Date: 2007-09-04Charlotte Joko Beck offers a warm, engaging, uniquely American approach to using Zen to deal with the problems of daily living--love, relationships, work, fear, ambition, and suffering. Everyday Zen shows us how to live each moment to the fullest. This Plus edition includes an interview with the author.
