Teachings
Five Aspects of Zen Training
Excerpted and edited from Zen Master Ji Bong’s There are five principal aspects of Zen training: First, we must find our direction. We reinforce that direction by two processes, 1) vows and 2) precepts. We recite the four great vows to remind ourselves of the basic components of our path. As we mature as students, we take precepts, which establish more firmly our obligations to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. A second aspect of training is the process by which we “clean our karma”, so that we are able to fully receive that Dharma Light. Therefore, we bow every day. Complete bowing means that we must, with each prostration, release our karma and take refuge in our Buddha nature. In addition, we perform many acts of “together action” at our Zen Center and, also, in the extended community. Everything we do with a clear mind and an open heart helps to clean our karma. It is very hard to change our karma if we live and practice in isolation. The third aspect of our training involves learning how to focus our attention, so that we may experience “before-thinking” mind. This allows an experiential contact with our original nature. Sometimes this experience is called “kensho” (to perceive one’s nature). Meditation, Zen walking, various types of yoga and martial arts are all useful in this training. We feature “sitting Zen” as the core of this training. The fourth aspect of training involves expanding our “generosity of spirit”. In Zen we call it refining our “Bodhisattva intention”. Chanting helps to open our hearts, which is the seat of our “Bodhisattva intention.” When we chant, we are able to move the focus of attention in our tan-t’ien (belly) gained from sitting Zen, upward, so that it is able to energize and open our heart. The fifth aspect of training is, essentially, wisdom training. This is the area of one-on-one meetings with the teacher (dokusan), koan training, and Dharma talks. |
