Zen in daily life

Zen teacher Dogen and the Soto approach to Zen

Some Zen Terms And concepts.

  1. The terms and concepts are arranged in A-Z order. In time more terms will be added.
  2. The explanations are based mainly on Prof. Masunaga and Danny Waxman teachings of Soto and Dogen's Zen. You can click the URLed terms and reach the original texts and explanations that are in the Site.
TermShort Explanation
AnandaGreat disciple of Buddha, and a disciple also of Mahakasyapa. The Indian second Father (patriarch) in the tradition of Zen Buddhism.
BodhidharmaThe Zen teacher that brought the wisdom of the true law from India to China. He is the 28 father in the tradition of Zen Buddhism in India, and the first Zen teacher in China.
BodhisattvaA human being that penetrated to it's true self and is near the zone of Enlightenment or is fully enlightened. This person Woman or man works in the middle of daily life for helping others to reach Satori too. Danny Waxman says: Bodhisattva does not seek fame and profit, honor or respect. He or she act in full function without being tired for the benefit of all human beings.
BuddhaA Man, Historical figure that lived 2500 years ago, and reached after much hardship training a great Enlightenment, and since than for the next 45 years taught the right entry for finding one's true self and reaching enlightenment. Zen Buddhism is based on the enlightenment of Buddha.
Danny WaxmanSoto Zen and Let-go Judo and Ninjutsu teacher. An Israeli Layman disciple of Prof. Masunaga Reiho. Learned Zen and Budo for more then 13 years in Japan. He is the Senior Sensei (teacher) of this site
DogenThe father of Soto Zen in Japan (1200-1253) brought The true law from China, Wrote Shobogenzo.
DojoThe place for training into enlightenment, the house of the warrior, a place where true teacher and students meet to share and develop their humanistic spiritual and physical abilities.
FukanZazengiGuidelines for sitting Zazen. Written by Dogen. The essential and premier guide for Zen training in the Soto Zen tradition for more then 650 years.
HakuinGreat reviver and teacher of the Rinzai Zen sect (1686-1768) Had many great disciples, including women. Known also for his paintings and Calligraphy.
KeizanThis great Soto Zen teacher (1268-1325) made Zen teaching accessible and explainable for the common people. Because his big heart and efforts, the Soto Zen was spread all over Japan.
KinhinZazen in movement. Walking after Zazen in small and slow steps in a cycle, keeping both hands near the chest, one hand wraps the other.
Let-goIn every act seeking to be beyond power. Not going against, not hold to any form or thought, yet not just collapse from being too loose. Leave everything without leaving. Forget your self without lose yourself. Practice Let-go in daily life, and in the Dojo. Invest in Let-go; let go to external power for developing inner life and vitality. This is one of the most important issues in Danny Waxman teaching.
MahakasyapaBuddha first Successor, and the first father in the tradition of Zen Buddhism after Buddha. Known for his smile of enlightenment.
MenjuDirect transmission from mind to mind of the true law from Zen teacher to a disciple.
NagarjunaThe 14 father in the tradition of Zen Buddhism after Buddha. Known also as one of the most important contributor to Indian philosophy in subjects such as logic time, and causality.
NyojoDogen's Zen Teacher in China
Prof. Masuanag ReihoSoto Zen teacher priest and Prof. of Buddhist philosophy and Zen Buddhism history. The teacher of Mr. Danny Waxman. This site is dedicated mainly to his work and teachings of Dogen Soto Zen.
Rinzai ZenGreat Zen teacher Linchi (Rinzai) established in China this Zen school. It emphasis sitting in Zazen, and solving formal riddles (Koans) as away to reach enlightenment.
SatoriThe Japanese word for Enlightenment usually referred to complete enlightenment or high level of attainment.
ShikentazaOnly Zazen. Zazen without doing anything else, just sitting. Danny Waxman says: Straight to the point, the direct way to Satori.
ShobogenzoThe masterpiece that was created by Dogen, including 95 chapters. Some of the most important of them are in this site!
Soto ZenThe Zen-school that emphasis Zazen as the direct way to Satori, and teach to find the Koans in daily life. This site belongs to the tradition of the Soto Zen.
Srimala, Ambapali, Khema, Acala, PrabhutaGreat laywomen bodhisattva figures at the time of Buddha. Known for their wisdom compassion and also beauty.
SutraA text varied from one page to a length of a book that contains usually the saying of the Buddhas or the Bodhisattvas, and stories about them or their disciples. Examples are the Heart sutra or Avatamsaka sutra.
TakuanZen teacher that belongs to the Rinzai School and is known for his teaching of Zen with regard to training in Budo (Martial Arts)
VimalakirtiA layman Bodhisattva, disciple of Buddha, who lived complete daily life, yet excelled in wisdom and compassion.
Zazen'Za' is - soft, gentle, tranquil. 'Zen' is - true. Zazen is the true and tranquil sitting. Zazen is calm and comfortable cross leg sitting. Sitting in Zazen creates the harmony between the heart, internal organs, breath and brain. The principle of sitting in Zazen is to be beyond thinking. To think without thinking, to let all thoughts go, focusing on one thing, doing Zazen only. Please read Fukanzazengi for more explanations.
ZenProf. Masunaga says: Zen is a practice that helps a human being to penetrate to his true self through cross-legged sitting (zazen) and to vitalize this self in daily life.
ZenkiOne of the most important concepts in Soto Zen teaching, meaning Full Function (in daily life) or Total Dynamic. Dogen, in Shobogenzo wrote a chapter dedicated to Zenki and Prof. Masunaga wrote and introductory essay for it, both appearing in the book Zen beyond Zen (that Prof. Masunaga wrote in English). Zenki is one of the deepest of all texts and among the hardest to explain and understand. It deals directly with issues like Life-death, Time, and existence. Danny Waxman current experience in trying to teach Zenki is that beginners have some difficulty handling it, and it seems that concentrating on Fukanzazengi and Bendowa, and Prof. Masunaga writing seem more "soft" entering to Zen teaching. Zazen practice is the Key to understand Zenki; One should understand that, and not try too hard to understand it from a dualistic point of view, because his efforts would be for vain.