Zen Concepts.

Zen, Beliefs and Dogmas.

Zen is very pragmatic and down to earth. It is essentially a practice and experience, not a theory or dogma. Zen adheres to no specific philosophy or faith, and has no dogma that its followers must accept or believe in. For us westerners, this is very different from our Christian religion and its associated dogma.

Zen does not seek to answer metaphysical questions related to God, the afterlife, reincarnation, and spiritualism. This is because these are not really important issues for Zen. In Zen, what matters is the here and now: not God or extra-terrestrials, not ghosts of the deceased or Heaven and Hell, but the present here and now.

Zen gladly accepts the idea that men are only men and nothing more. Man being what he is, cannot answer life's impossible questions without falling into the trap of illusion. No one knows the answers to the deep questions about life and death. These questions are impossible to answer, given the limited sphere of knowledge that comes with the condition of being a human being. As Master Taisen Deshimaru said, "It is impossible to give a definite answer to those questions, unless you suffer from a major mental disorder. "

Religions feel compelled to give answers to everything as a sign of their "great wisdom", but for Zen, not giving any answer at all is actually the great wisdom.

Mushotoku

In Zen, the concept of Mushotoku represents a state of mind where the spirit does not seek to obtain anything. This is the attitude of a mind that do not get attached to objects and that seeks no personal profit. Without this state of mind, Zazen is not authentic. Universal wisdom is rooted in Mushotoku and it transcends dualities and limitations created by our egos.

We must not practice Zen meditation, or Zazen, with a hope to personally profit. Do not practice for Zazen for fame or profit; do not practice it to obtain a reward; do not practice it to obtain esoteric powers. Do not practice Zazen for yourself; simply practice Zazen for Zazen. Zazen has no object and no subject; it is simply the union of the absolute self with the Cosmos.

In daily life, man always wants to obtain what he does not have, and he is afraid of losing what he already has. Some people are constantly thinking of profit, wondering what they can get in return for what they give. Or course, in everyday life you must sometimes make a profit in order to survive. For example, a man working in finance has to make a profit- that is the nature of his work. However, this attitude that focuses only on profit must be completely divested from an authentic Zazen practice.

In Zen, Mushotoku means getting rid of attachment on a mental level, that is, becoming unattached to personal profit in all forms. Letting go of profit means letting go of the inner self. In the end, giving up the self is the greatest achievement you can reach. Mushotoku is you, me and the entire Universe in pure sincerity.

Hishiryo

Hishiryo is a state of mind beyond thinking and non-thinking. During Zazen, it is the normal condition of the consciousness. When you are thinking constantly, you are not in the mind's normal condition. Your imagination and personal desires are expressing themselves to your mind, taking you away from your mind's simple, peaceful, original condition.

The more you think, the more afraid you become, and the more anxious you grow. After too long, complications and even madness can arise from this. When you think too much, conflicts and battles take hold of your mind, preventing you from ever finding true peace. This prevents you from harmonizing with reality, and with the Universe as a whole. When you stop this internal activity, you return to the normal, simple, and peaceful condition of the mind.

We can observe the simplicity of Hishiryo in animals. Cats are, for example, very simple creatures. They are easy to understand and are not complicated. A cat does as it pleases, and it is completely connected with the present, never overthinking. Animals live true Zen, as they are totally connected with the present moment, and by extension, the Cosmos. Thus, we should look to them as examples in our journey to become one with the Universe.

Zanshin

Zanshin is a concept found in Zen, Budo (Japanese martial arts, particularly Kendo) and many Japanese arts, such as Ikebana (flower arrangement), chado (the tea ceremony) and sumi-e (ink painting). Simply put, Zanshin is the state when the mind is fully vigilant and aware of its surroundings; when the mind remains still without being attached to anything and is totally present during every moment and action in the here and now.

Everything is interconnected, and the entire Cosmos is influenced by our attitude; that is, all the words we speak, all the actions we carry out, and all the ways we move influence what is happening inside of us and around us. Every action and every thought in the here and now must be right and harmonious-this is Zanshin. Every action is important: eating, getting dressed, washing, going to the bathroom, putting things away, interacting with other people - all of these actions are important and should be done with Zanshin.

The concept of Zanshin is that one should be fully present in whatever action is at hand. When I eat, I eat. My mind is fully engaged on the action of eating. When I fight, I fight. My mind is fully engaged on the action of fighting. I am in the here and now, totally immersed in the task at hand, and I will complete what I have started.

In Budo, Zanshin means being aware of one's surroundings and enemies, while being prepared to react and being unaffected by pain. It is a state of mind that takes years of training to develop. Through the practice of Zazen and Budo, little by little, this kind of alertness can expand to every action of one's daily life, and in the end, one realizes that there are no ordinary moments.

Fudoshin

Fudoshin is the 'immovable mind', that is, the mind that has met all challenges of life, and has attained a state of complete composure and fearlessness. This state of equanimity is essential in the practice of Zazen and Budo.

Fudoshin also represents a peaceful state of total determination and unshakable will. It is the state of a spirit that is determined to win, and that is filled with courage, endurance and determination to surmount every obstacle that comes in its way. Fudoshin is associated with a feeling of invincibility.

In Feudal Japan, Fudoshin was manifested in the Samurai's unquestionable demonstration of courage, and determination to face difficulty, danger, pain, and even death, without fear.

Mushin

Mushin is the essence of Zen and Budo. Mushin literally means the "mind without mind", and it is commonly called "the state of no-mindness". A Mushin mind is a mind that is not fixed on or occupied by any thought or emotion, and is thus open to the Cosmos.

Mushin is achieved when a person's mind is free from anger, fear, or the ego during combat or everyday life.

Mushin cannot be grasped with the intellect; it must be experienced. A Mushin mind is a mind that has no Ego and no substance; it is pure Enlightenment and is the perfect realization of the self.

Satori or Enlightenment

As opposed to what many people think, Satori is not a special state. It is simply a return to the original, natural condition of the human mind. Satori, or Enlightenment, is not something that can be understood by using the brain. Satori is an experience; it is a state of mind. The posture of Zazen itself is Satori, and only through the harmony of body and mind one can discover the nature of Satori.

Satori exists in us long before we are born. Animals always have Satori, being constantly in their original condition, totally immersed in the present and connected to the Cosmos. Only human beings have lost this original condition of the consciousness, and have thus become more complicated.

In order to have true inner peace, human beings must regain this original condition of Satori. However, in your journey to regain Satori, don't tell yourself, "I have to become Buddha. I've got to achieve satori." This is a waste of time and energy because this attitude reinforces the mistaken idea that Satori is some kind of goal to be achieved.

Simply live your daily life normally, practice zazen, and let go of everything. Do not try too hard to understand what Satori is, or how to achieve it. Again, this is a waste of time.

When we start trying to explain it what Satori is, we start putting it into limiting categories, saying, "Satori is this, Satori is not that." In Zen, there are no categories; nothing can be separate.

The only way to truly have Satori is by practicing Zazen in the here and now.