NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kensho

Part of a series on Buddhism Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, the teachings of the awakened one) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (Pali: Gotama Buddha), who lived on the Indian subcontinent in or around the fifth century BCE (review article). ... Image File history File links Lotus75. ...
History of Buddhism Timeline of Buddhism Buddhist councils The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. ... 563 BCE: SiddhÄrtha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. ... // 1st Buddhist council (5th century BC) The first Buddhist council was held soon after the death of the Buddha under the patronage of king Ajatasatru, and presided by a monk named Mahakasyapa, at Rajagaha (todays Rajgir). ...
Foundations Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path The Five Precepts Nirvāna · Three Jewels Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ... The Four Noble Truths (Pali, cattari ariya saccani) are taught in Buddhism as the fundamental insight or enlightenment of Sakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha), which led to the formulation of the Buddhist philosophy. ... The Noble Eightfold Path (Sanskrit Ä€ryo á¹£á¹Äá¹…go mÄrgaá¸¥ , PÄli Ariyo aá¹á¹haá¹…giko maggo) of Buddhism, as taught by the Buddha ÅšÄkyamuni, is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. ... Pancasila or paÃ±ca-sila is the fundamental code of Buddhist ethics, willingly undertaken by lay followers of Gautama Buddha. ... This article is about a Buddhist philosophy concept. ... The Triratna or Three Jewels symbol, on a Buddha footprint. ...
Key Concepts Three marks of existence Skandha · Cosmology · Dharma Samsara · Rebirth · Shunyata Pratitya-samutpada · Karma Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. ... After much meditation, the Buddha concluded that everything in the physical world (plus everything in the phenomenology of psychology) is marked by three characteristics, known as the three characteristics of existence or Dharma Seals. ... The skandhas (Sanskrit: PÄli: Khandha; literally: heap or bundle) are the five constituents or aggregates through which the functioning and experience of an individual is created according to Buddhist phenomenology. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... In East Asia, the character for Dharma is æ³•, pronounced fÇŽ in Mandarin and hÅ in Japanese. ... Saá¹ƒsÄra, the Sanskrit and PÄli term for continous movement or continuous flowing refers in Buddhism to the concept of a cycle of birth (jÄti) and consequent decay and death (jarÄmaraá¹‡a), in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped... // Rebirth in the context of other religions and other Buddhist beliefs One of the features that distinguishes the Middle Eastern religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) from the Indian religions (most notably Hinduism and Buddhism) is the view of life and death. ... ÅšÅ«nyatÄ, à¤¶à¥‚à¤¨à¥à¤¯à¤¤à¤¾ (Sanskrit, Pali: suÃ±Ã±atÄ), or Emptiness, is a term for an aspect of the Buddhist metaphysical critique as well as Buddhist epistemology and phenomenology. ... The doctrine of PratÄ«tyasamutpÄda (Sanskrit) or Paá¹iccasamuppÄda (PÄli; Tibetan: ) is Buddhisms primary contribution to metaphysics. ... Karma (Sanskrit karman) or Kamma (PÄli) means action or doing; whatever one does, says, or thinks is a karma. ...
Major Figures Gautama Buddha Buddha's Disciples · Family A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, MusÃ©e Guimet. ...
Practices and Attainment Buddhahood · Bodhisattva Four Stages of Enlightenment Paramis · Meditation A stone image of the Buddha. ... Prince Siddhartha Gautama as a bodhisattva, before becoming a Buddha. ... The Four stages of enlightenment in Buddhism are the four degrees of approach to full enlightenment as an arhat which a Buddhist can attain in this life. ... Pāramitā (Sanskrit) or Parami (Pāli): Perfection or Transcendent (lit. ... Buddhist meditation, meditation used in the practice of Buddhism, includes any method of meditation that has Enlightenment as its ultimate aim. The closest word for meditation in the classical languages of Buddhism is bhavana or mental development. // Methods of meditation The main methods of Buddhist meditation are divided into samatha...
Buddhism by Region Southeast Asia · East Asia Tibet · India · Western Buddhist beliefs and practices vary according to region. ... Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. ... The Aomori Daibutsu (Big Buddha), Aomori, Japan. ... Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim), Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and northeastern China (Manchuria: Heilongjiang, Jilin). ... The Indo-Greek king Menander (155-130 BCE) is the first Western historical figure documented to have converted to Buddhism. ...
Schools of Buddhism Theravāda · Mahāyāna Vajrayāna · Early schools There are many divisions and subdivisions of the schools of Buddhism. ... Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) NikÄya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. ... Mah is an ancient Persian god of the moon, one of the Yazatas. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... Divisions among the early Buddhist schools came about due to doctrinal or practical differences in the views of the Buddhist Sangha following the death of the Buddha. ...
Texts Pali Suttas · Mahayana Sutras Vinaya · Abhidhamma There are a great variety of Buddhist texts. ... The Sutta Pitaka (or Sutra Pitaka) is the second of three divisions of the Tipitaka, the great Pali collection of Buddhist writings. ... Mahayana sutras are a very broad genre of Buddhist scriptures that were originally put in writing starting in the first century BCE. They form the basis of the various Mahayana schools. ... Pali or Sanskrit word meaning discipline. The Vinaya is the textual framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha. ... The abhidhamma is the name of one of the three pitakas, or baskets of tradition, into which the Tipitaka (Pali; Sanskrit: Tripitaka), the canon of early Buddhism, is divided. ...
Comparative Studies Culture · List of Topics Portal: Buddhism The cultural elements of Buddhism vary by region and include: Buddhist cuisine Buddhist art Buddharupa Art and architecture of Japan Greco-Buddhism Tibetan Buddhist sacred art Buddhist music Buddhist chant Shomyo Categories: Buddhism-related stubs ... Contents: Top - 0â€“9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z The following is a List of Buddhist topics: A Abhidharma Ahimsa Ajahn Ajahn Chah Ajanta Aksobhya Alexandra David-NÃ©el... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This box: view • talk • edit

Kenshō (見性), literally "seeing the nature" in Japanese, is the experience of enlightenment described in the context of Zen Buddhism. The term is often used to denote an initial awakening experience, seeing one's True-Nature or Buddha-Nature, that can be enlarged and clarified through further practice in daily life. . For other uses, see Enlightenment. ... Bodhidharma, woodcut print by Yoshitoshi, 1887. ... Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, the teachings of the awakened one) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (Pali: Gotama Buddha), who lived on the Indian subcontinent in or around the fifth century BCE (review article). ... Buddha-nature (originally in Sanskrit, Buddha-dhatu - Buddha Element, Buddha-Principle) is a doctrine important for many schools of Mahayana Buddhism. ...

The Kensho experience

In Kensho, one experiences the illusionary nature of the separate self ("I"). Because of the nature of the mind, any perception seems to involve a perceived object, the process of perception, and a perceiving subject. For example, 'I see you': I - the subject (which appears to be separate from the perceived objects), see - the process of perception, you - the object. Trying to find the "I," the subject, through introspection leads to the realisation that this "I" is completely dependent on the process of perception, the associated thought/feeling complex, and the memories tied to them.

Contemporary accounts of kensho experience have been documented in the book The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau roshi. Philip Kapleau was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and became a teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Harada-Yasutani tradition, a blending of Soto and Rinzai schools. ... Roshi (老師) is a Japanese word, common in Zen Buddhism, meaning old (ro) and teacher (shi). ...

From the SoTo Zen Perspective: The direct experiencing of that which is Unborn, Undying, Uncreated, Unchanging; The Eternal Flow/Flux. One knows, with the whole of ones being, that one was not, is not, and forever will not ever be separate from the whole of the Universe. Afterward, one will always know that one has changed.

For a much more through explaination, see How To Grow A Lotus Blossom (or How A Zen Buddhist Prepares For Death) by Rev. Master P.T.N.H. Jiyu-Kennett, M.O.B.C. ,Shasta Abbey Press See also Houn Jiyu-Kennett Reverend Master Houn Jiyu-Kennett, Roshi, (1924-1996) was a priest and Zen Buddhist teacher of the Soto school, as well as founder of The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, whose two main training temples are Shasta Abbey (US), and Throssel Hole Abbey (UK). ...

Seeking kensho

Working towards this realisation is usually a lengthy process of meditation and introspection under guidance of a Zen or other Buddhist teacher, usually in intensive sesshin retreats. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A sesshin (攝心) is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) in a Zen monastery. ...

However, Kensho may also be spontaneous, upon hearing or reading some significant phrase, or as result of a profound dream. For example, Zen lore describes the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng's spontaneous experience of kensho upon hearing a phrase of the Diamond sutra. Pierre-CÃ©cile Puvis de Chavannes: The Dream, 1883 A dream is the experience of envisioned images, voices, or other sensations during sleep. ... Huineng (638 - 713) was a Chinese Chan monk who is one of the most important figures in the entire tradition. ... Huineng (638 - 713) was a Chinese Chan monk who is one of the most important figures in the entire tradition. ... The Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedika-prajÃ±ÄpÄramitÄ-sÅ«tra), The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra that Cuts like a Thunderbolt, is a short Mahayana sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom genre, which teaches the practice of the avoidance of abiding in extremes of mental attachment. ...

Koans are often used as meditation aids, (particularly in the Rinzai tradition). For example, one koan is known as: 'Who am I', since it is this question that guides the enquiry into one's true nature. The realization that there is no 'I' that is doing the thinking, but rather that the thinking process brings forth the illusion of an 'I', is a step on the way to Kensho. A koan (pronounced ) is a story, dialog, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition. ... There is a disputed proposal that this article should be merged with Rinzai and Linji. ...

It is not unusual for various hallucinations and psychological disturbances to arise prior to true kensho, these are referred to as makyo. Distinguishing these delusions from actual kensho is the primary function of the teacher, as the student may be erroneously convinced they have realized kensho. An hallucination is a sensory perception experienced in the absence of an external stimulus, as distinct from an illusion, which is a misperception of an external stimulus. ... Maya in Hinduism In Vedic philosophy, maya is the illusion of a limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled, a veiling of the true, unitary Self, also known as Brahman. ...