Sit

by Taisen Deshimaru

  MEN MITSU. Delicate, careful and/or attentive. (Men means cotton, mitsu means soft, thick, intimate, honey.)

  Men mitsu is associated with the Soto teaching in as much as zusan (i.e., rough) is associated with the Rinzai teaching.

  MOKUGYO. A hollowed-out wooden drum, carved in the shape of a fish. Struck by a padded mallet during the chanting of the Hannya Shingyo, and for certain dharanis, in order to maintain rhythm.

  MOKUSHO ZEN. Silent shining Zen. (Moku: silence, sho: to shine or illuminate.) Chinese Rinzai master Daie (d. 1163), wishing to criticize the Soto teaching, invented the expression 'mokusho Zen' during his longstanding controversy wit h Soto, to imply a Zen which does nothing but sit in silence. "Soto people," he said, " practice an evil Zen of silent illumination." Interestingly, Soto master Wanshi (d. 1157) promulgated the Rinzai "mokusho" declaration in its literal sense (silently shining), calling "mokusho" the true symbol of Soto. By merely turning on the meaning of the word, Wanshi clarified the essence of Soto. (See Kanna-Zen.)

  MONDO. Question-and-answer period between master and disciples, it occurs directly after zazen. In the broader sense, however, a "mondo" can be a spontaneous exchange occurring between master and disciples, within the dojo or without, and in front of others or alone. Not to be confused with a "Dharma combat," or with any other form of competition, wit-wise or other. Then, too, there exists the historical mondo, the ancient exchanges which were put to writing by the disciples. These recordings, the Rinzai Roku included, make up the bulk of Zen literature today.

  MU (wu in Chinese). Mu can either mean:

  1. "no" as in the words mushotoku (no profit), mu-shin (no-mind), etc.

  2. "nothing"-though not in the sense of "nothing" as opposed to "something. " That which is neither beyond existence nor notbeyond-that is non-existence.

  When a monk asked Joshu if a dog had Buddha nature, Joshu did not reply "no"-he replied "mu. "

  MUJO (Anitya in Sanskrit). Impermanence of all things. Eternal change. Fundamental principle of Buddhism, "Mujo never ceases to spy on you, not even for a moment," writes master Daichi, "and when he delivers his attack, it is with such speed and brutality that it strikes you down before you even realize it."

  MUMMONKAN. The Gateless Gate. Book of forty-eight koans, compiled and commentated on by master Mummon (d. 1260) of the Rinzai lineage. The Mummonkan, along with the Hekigan Roku, are the two best known collections of koans composed in Chinese.

  MUSASHI, Miyamoto (1584-1645). Famous Japanese samurai, great sumi-e painter and disciple of Rinzai master Takuan-from whom he received the Bodhisattva ordination. Near the end of his life and until his death, Musashi lived in a mountain cave, where he composed his treatise on the art of combat, The Five Rings. Musashi called himself "doraku" which means lover in two heavens (i.e., pleasure along the way).

  MUSHIN. No-mind, non-mental, without consciousness. (Mu: no, shin: mind.) Mushin means there is no deluded foolish mind; it doesn't mean there is no mind to discern false from true.

  The source of all forms of mind, says Dogen, undivided, beyond opposites, and containing no analysis.

  MUSHOTOKU. Nothing to obtain. (Mu is the negative prefix; shotoku means to obtain, to profit.) So you have the practice without aim, purpose, profit, goal or object. Expresses the philosophical essence of Soto Zen-to be without hope of attaining satori or of becoming Buddha. The philosophy of non-profit.

  MYOZEN (1184-1225). Great Rinzai monk and chief disciple of Eisai (the founder of the Rinzai school in Japan). Also the master of Dogen for over nine years. Travelled with Dogen to China. Died while on Mount T'ien-t'ung, in southeastern China, at the age of forty-two, of dysentery. A statue was erected at the place of his death. When Dogen returned to Japan some years later, he brought all Myozen's relics along with him.

  NAGARJUNA (100-200). Great Indian Buddhist philosopher, founder of the Madyamika (or Middle Way) school of Buddhism, and 14th Patriarch in the line from the Buddha. Spent most of his life in southern India where he was born, of a Brahmin family. The first to teach the Mahayana doctrine of ku (sunyata or emptiness), and for this was called "the father of Mahayana. " The Madyamika sastra was his greatest written work. Near the end of his life, Nagarjuna burned all his books and sutras and devoted himself entirely to the study of the kesa.

  NANGAKU (Nan-yeh in Chinese, 677-744). Pre-Rinzai lineage. Disciple of the 6th patriarch, Eno, and himself master of Baso. Along with Seigen, he was Eno's most important disciple; also, Nangaku was the precursor of Rinzai Zen (much as Seigen was the precursor of Soto). Practiced under Eno for more than fifteen years, and when he received the transmission from him, "it was like water passing from one bowl to another. " (See Baso.)

  NEMBUTSU. This word has two different meanings:

  1. Generally speaking, when the word is written with a capital "N," it refers to a branch of Mahayana Buddhism which includes the Tendai and Jodo schools.

  2. With a small "n," nembutsu refers to the invocation "Namu-AmidaButsu" (I trust in Amida Buddha) which is practiced by this branch of Buddhism, in lieu of meditation.

  NIRVANA

  1. A blowing out, as in the extinguishing of a flame. Thus death.

  2. The complete and final dying out, as in the word "paranirvana," when there is complete freedom from the chain of births and deaths.

  3. The deepest samadhi, as when the flame of delusion has blown out, and original enlightenment, true satori, reveals itself.

  NOUMENON (Svabhava in Sanskrit). A thing in itself. Substance.

  Buddhism does not teach the doctrine of noumenon, it teaches the doctrine of non-noumenon. Nagarjuna writes: "Those who perceive self-existence and other-existence, and who perceive an existent thing and a non-existent thing, do not perceive the true nature of the Buddha's teaching" (i.e., all things are empty of ownbeing or noumenon).

  NYOJO (Ju-ching. 1163-1228). Disciple of Stecho Chih and master of Dogen. Soto master during the Sung dynasty and abbot of Tendo monastery. Travelled from dojo to dojo, and in the course of his wanderings came into contact with all the different types of Zen existing in his time. Some schools blended zazen with the recitation of the nembutsu, with breath-counting, with Taoism and Confucianism, and others with koan study. Saddened by this state of affairs, Nyojo installed himself as abbot of Tendo monastery (in southeastern China), and taught only zazen. Strong critic of the amalgamation process then occurring on mainland China, and, more particularly of mixture-Zen, or what is today referred to as "spiritual pluralism." In other words, he felt you don't blend the One Teaching of Bodhidharma and the patriarchs by adding to it. He called those monks and teachers who advocated such practices "the debasers of the true teaching" (i.e., the teaching of Bodhidharma) and "the destroyers of the Buddha Dharma."

  Nyojo was the last of the great Chinese Zen masters. However, thanks no doubt to Dogen, who carried Nyojo's teachings back with him to Japan in 1225, it still continues today.

  OBAKU (Huang-po in Chinese, d. 850). Disciple of Hyakujo and master of Rinzai. One of the great masters of Tang China. His manner of teaching was often very zusan (rough) and widely imitated by his later successors in the Rinzai line. He is nevertheless held in the highest esteem by all masters, regardless of school or sect. Dogen writes in Bukkyo that, "Obaku's expression and knowledge surpass even that of his master Hyakujo. Obaku was an ancient Buddha beyond time, far superior to Hyakujo and much sharper than Baso; and Rinzai by comparison was small time. "

  OBAKU SECT. Founded by Obaku's shusso, this sect no longer exists in China. Introduced into Japan by Ingen in 1654, Obaku Zen still exists in that country, along with Rinzai and Soto. The head temple, built in the Chinese style, is called Mampuku ji, and is located in Uji, near Kyoto.

  Curiously enough, Obaku Zen is not the Zen practiced by master Obaku (let alone by Rinzai or Dogen). In Obaku they chant the nembutsu during zazen; so here the word "Obaku" is simply used as a namesake.

  PRAJNA (Sanskrit, hannya in Japanese). Transcendental wisdom, intui
tive insight. One of the six paramitas (or perfections).

  PRECEPTS (see kai).

  RAKUSU. Small token kesa worn over the neck and breast, and given usually by the master to the disciple during ordination. Also can be worn by all Mahayana Buddhists (monks, nuns and lay disciples), for it symbolizes the original patched robe of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Rectangular in shape and approximately thirty-three centimeters long and twenty-three wide. (See kesa.)

  RENSAKU. A series of blows given with the kyosaku on the muscles located between the neck and shoulders. Its purpose is to educate, not to punish.

  RINZAI (Lin-chi in Chinese, d. 867). Disciple of Obaku and great master of the golden Tang. His method of teaching was very zusan, very fierce and direct, but also very effective; for though his teaching career covered a span of not more than ten years, he had many disciples and his line continues until today.

  RINZAI'S FOUR PRINCIPLES (see Four Principles of Rinzai).

  RINZAI ROKU (Lin-chi Lu in Chinese). The sayings of master Rinzai recorded and compiled into a small one-volume work by his disciple Enen. According to Rinzai master Shibayama, "The Rinzai Roku is valued as the foremost Zen book in the Rinzai school."

  RINZAI ZEN. The most important and far-reaching school of Zen, after Soto. Founded upon the teachings of master Rinzai (d. 867), much of which can be found in the Rinzai Roku. Adheres to the formal use of the koan method, and to the quest for satori. Transmitted to Japan by Eisai in 1190.

  ROSHI. A respectful title meaning "old master" (Ro means old, Shi means master). Title used when a Zen master is of advanced age (though today readily appropriated by teachers of all ages).

  SAMADHI (zanmai in Japanese). Complete concentration of mind. Concentration not based on any one notion or any one thing. The pure working of no-mind (mushin). "The samadhi of the Buddhas and the patriarchs," says Dogen, "is frost and hail, wind and lightning. "

  SAMPAI. Prostration-or more correctly "three prostrations. " In Buddhism one generally does three prostrations at a time, and so we have the expression: san (three) pai (prostration). Sampai is the highest salutation and it is done, more than not, before the Buddha or the master. The giving up of body and mind to all things. The feet, knees, hands, and forehead touch the ground. "The death of sampai," says master Deshimaru, "is the death of Buddha."

  SAMU. Concentration on manual work, such as scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets, sweeping the walks, etc. Work, but not done for pay. Rather, samu is work done without object or goal, for nothing. It is said that if you do samu everyday, you will obtain great merit. Holy work.

  SANDOKAI or SAN DO KAI. Poem composed by Master Sekito (700-790). One of the four oldest written works in Zen. Considered as the textual embodiment of the essence of Zen.

  SANGHA (Sanskrit). Lit. "the assembly of the monks. " The good holy company. The gathering of three or more disciples around the master. The very heart of Buddhism and all the different schools come together in the sangha. Shortly after the Buddha had his great satori at Bodh-Gaya (Buddhagaya) in the sixth century B.C., his former companions, and those he met along the way, Ananda, Sariputra, Mahakasyapa, etc. came to him, and this gathering was called "the sangha of Shakyamuni Buddha." In fact, of all existing religious orders, the Buddhist sangha is the oldest. In Japanese the word sorin is sometimes used (so means group and rin means forest). A forest or place where various kinds of trees live together.

  SANRAN. San means dispersed, ran means thought. A mind that is distracted, in nervous tension, overly active, excited, ecstatic. A state of being when one's mind is carried to the outside; and also, when one's body is in excessive tension, particularly in the shoulders. During zazen the eyes move, the head moves, and the hands and fingers move. (See kontin for the opposite.)

  SAN SHO DOEI. Collection of thirty short poems composed by master Dogen in the thirteenth century. Sansho means parasol pines; and it is also the previous name of Mount Eihei in northwestern Japan; and Do means the way.

  SATORI. Unsurpassed right awakening. Return to one's true nature, to original mind. Directed not by one's personal ego, but by the fundamental cosmic power. The realization of mushotoku. Contrary to what is generally believed, satori is not something special. Satori does not exist; it is something and it is nothing. It is neither good nor bad. It is the normal condition of mind, and beyond the realm of morals, beyond that which makes for good merit and rebirth in paradise. True satori is unconscious; conscious satori is not satori. In Soto, as opposed to Rinzai, there is no searching for satori. For zazen itself is satori.

  SAWAKI, KODO (1880-1965). Great Soto master of twentieth century Japan and master of Taisen Deshimaru. Ordained by master Koho Shoryu in Kyushu at the age of eighteen, and later studied under master Shokoku Zenko. Spent most of his teaching career traveling around Japan, going to the universities, town halls and prisons, and he continued in this manner until the mid 1960s when he could no longer walk. He never had his own temple and was called "homeless Kodo." Kodo Sawaki taught only zazen, and he was a very revolutionary master. "Those who think they have to work to earn a salary," he once said, "are poor fellows; and those who study in order to earn money afterwards are hopeless. "

  SEKITO (700-790). Disciple of Seigen and master of Yakusan. Leading Chinese master of the golden Tang. He always did zazen on a large stone-thus his name "Sekito," which means "stonehead. " Author of the poem San Do Kai.

  SENSEI. A respectful title for "teacher" used widely in the social context. Not so limited as the word "master," which refers specifically to a master of Zen, a master of Judo, etc. or "roshi" which means "old master" and which has a more honorific connotation than "sensei."

  SESSHIN. Period of time (be it two days, three, four, five, six or seven) given to concentrated zazen practice. Ses means to touch and shin means true mind. To touch, to make contact with our true mind, to look toward the inside. To make contact with the universal cosmic ego.

  SHIHO. Traditionally, a secret ceremony that takes place at midnight between the master and one of his disciples, and during which the master passes on the transmission to the disciple. And, in this sense, it represents the most genuine, the most authentic and pure, the highest ordination existing in Zen. When the master certifies the disciple's satori. The true shiho is not a formal affair, but simply the act of giving and/or accepting the Dharma of a true master. In the colloquial sense, the shiho can also mean the actual "certificate" of transmission officializing the Zen monk in his functions and privileges. (See also footnote 21, Session 1.)

  SHIKANTAZA, only sitting. Concentrated sitting in the posture of zazen. The act of dropping off body and mind while in the seated posture. Single-minded sitting. Sitting without purpose or goal, without supportive devices, without breath-counting, without koan study. If a person were to describe the Soto practice in one word, he would say "Shikantaza." Shi (literally only) means state of concentration, kan means state of observation, taza means upright correct sitting.

  SHIKI. Phenomenon, form, substance, noumenon.

  SHIKI SOKU ZE KU. Phenomenon becomes emptiness. Shiki means phenomenon, and ku means emptiness. Reality becomes the ideal. (See ku soku ze shiki for the opposite.)

  SHIN. Depending upon the kanji (ideogram), it can mean either: "sharp attention," "heart," "mind," and/or "faith." Faith without object.

  SHIN JIN DATSU RAKU. Shin is mind, fin is body, datsu raku is to throw down, to throw away. Thus, literally, body and mind throw down (i.e., to abandon body and mind). The credo of Dogen and Deshimaru Zen.

  SHIN JIN MEI. Literally, Poems on the Faith of Mind. The oldest of the ancient Zen poems, composed by master Sosan (d. 606), and in which the term "hishiryo" is used for the first time.

  SHOBOGENZO. Title given to the monumental work by Dogen. Put into writing (i.e., recorded and compiled) by Ejo, Dogen's secretary; and so it is no doubt thanks to Ejo that this teaching has reached us so freshly and strongly, seven centuries later. Shobo means the absolute truth concerning the Dharma, gen means eye (thus t
o wake up to the truth), and zo means the storehouse, the treasury. So literally it means the "treasury-eye of the true teaching."

  SHOD OKA. Literally, Song of the Immediate Satori. The second oldest Zen composition, written in the form of a long poem, by master Yoka Daishi (665-713). Yoka Daishi was known as the-monk-whospent-one-night because he spent one night with the 6th Patriarch Eno (Hui-neng), and in one night he was awakened.

  SHUSSO. The shusso, in a dojo, is number one after the master (or the godo). He is responsible for everything that happens in the dojo proper-responsible for how everyone is seated, for the kyosakumen, the columns, the ceremony, and for the atmosphere as a whole. He sits to the left of the entrance, and he is considered the master's first disciple. (See godo.)

  SHUZEN. Stage by stage zazen practice which entails moving from one level of understanding to the next. Usually associated with the Rinzai school and their different levels of koan study.

  SIX PARAMITAS. Six perfections:

  1. giving or dana. 2. precepts or sila. 3. perseverance or observance, kshanti. 4. effort, virya. 5.meditation, dhyana. 6. wisdom, prajna.

  Para in the word "paramita"means "gone to the other shore. "

  SKANDHAS or FIVE SKANDHAS. Five categories or aggregates of mental activity that make up our mind/body experience: form, sensation, perception, mental conceptions, consciousness. Shiki, ju, so, gyo, shiki in Japanese. That which is loosely termed as "the self. "

  SOSAN (d. 606). Disciple of Eka and master of Doshin. Third Zen Patriarch. Author of the Shin Jin Mei, the very first true Zen text in existence.

  SOTO's FIVE GO-I (see five go-i).

  SOTO ZEN. Ts'ao-tung in Chinese. The oldest and most dominant of all the Zen schools (Rinzai and Obaku being the only other two Zen schools in existence). Though its line and tradition can be traced back through masters Seigen, Eno and Bodhidharma, the Soto school was formally established in ninth century China by masters Tozan and Sozan. Transmitted to Japan by Dogen in 1228. In Soto (as opposed to Rinzai), zazen is practiced facing a wallwithout object, without goal. And though the koan system is used in Soto, it is used without formal and systematic application. (See Sozan.)