Jeg har lavet en oversigt over forskellige buddhistiske og især zen-buddhistiske begreber med en kort forklaring. De fleste af forklaringerne er på engelsk, da jeg har fået dem fra forskellig engelsksproget litteratur.

Action:
The way we express our thought through physical interaction with our environment.

Agura:
Sitting cross-legged, where neither foot is placed firmly on the opposite thigh. This is neither the half or full lotus position. It is the common cross-legged position used to sit on the floor in the West.

:Sitting cross-legged, where neither foot is placed firmly on the opposite thigh. This is neither the half or full lotus position. It is the common cross-legged position used to sit on the floor in the West.

Ahimsa:
ikke-vold. Centralt begreb i buddhistisk etik.

Ai:
Japanese word meaning harmony.

Alaya:
That from which consciousness grows and to which it returns. Similar to the concept of Brahman.

Alaya-vijnana:
The part of the subconscious that, in response to causes and conditions, sends pieces of illusion from the manas to the five senses and thought. This forms a cycle, that is endless, of delusion.

Altruistic Behavior:
An act done without any intent for personal gain in any form. Altruism requires that there is no want for material, physical, spiritual, or egoistic gain.

Amitabha:
(Amida, Amita) Buddha of eternal light and external life, of the "happy land," the Pure Land.

Ananda:
Name of one of Buddha's disciples, joining early during Buddha's second year of teaching; he was one of Buddha's favored disciples, if not his most favored; his name means "joy." He was trusted to teach the doctrines, and to begin sermons. It was Ananda who got women admitted into the Buddhist order.

Anapanasati:
The harmonious breathing of correct zazen practice.

Anatolia:
Name given to a geographical location in history, that is presently called Turkey. Turkey borders on Europe and the Middle East.

Anatta:
Buddhist doctrine that there is no permanent self, no soul (atman). It is the third of the three characteristics of existence. See also dukkha, annica, and ti-lakkhana.
jegløshed. Indsigt i og oplevelse af jegløsheden opnåes bl.a. gennem analyser af menneskets og sindets sammensathed:
fx eksisterer et menneske ikke, men de fem skandhaer eksisterer og samvirker til at danne illusionen om et menneske; ligeså med de seks sanser og de hertil hørende seks slags bevidsthed; de 12 hinanden betingende trin i årsagskæden eksisterer, men ikke et fast jeg, der er bærer af disse tilstande.
Indsigten heri kan indbefatte en oplevelse af frihed, ubundethed, af at være en del af en energikilde uden selv-eksistens - og den muliggør først frelsen, nirvana-tilstanden.
(I mahayana eksisterer de elementer, man opdeler i, heller ikke, de har ingen egen-eksistens, men er shunya).
Som man i dette liv ikke har et fast jeg, men lever som en stadig strøm af skiftende tilstande, ikke er en identitet men en kontinuitet, således ligger det også med genfødsel til en ny eksistens:
det er ikke en sjæl, der genfødes, men tilstandene fortsætter ud over døden, pga karmas virkning.

Anicca:
Buddhist doctrine of impermanence, change. It is the first of the three characteristics of existence. See also dukkha, anatta, and ti-lakkhana.

Arahat:
(Arahant) One who has reached the final stage of spiritual progress, meaning "the worthy." This is a Pali word used in Buddhism, ranking an individual equivelantly to the brahmin caste of Hinduism. That means that the arahat is capable of moksha, nirvana, the escape from samsara.

Asana:
Third element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning postures.

Ascetic:
One who practices self humbling, self mortification, and self humiliation in order to gain spiritual benefit. There are thirteen practices that monks are supposed to perform as an ascetic. These are:
1) wearing robes made from discarded materials, 2) wearing no more than three robes, 3) begging for food, 4) not discriminating as to where to go for food, 5) only eating one meal a day, 6) eating from only the alms bowl, 7) refusing any more food than can fit in the alms bowl, 8) living in the forest, 9) at the foot of a tree, 10) under the open sky, 11) in a graveyard, 12) being satisfied with one's home, and 13) sleeping in the sitting position. Buddha denounced ascetic practices, though these have been practiced by Buddhist monks.

Atman:
Used in Hinduism, it is the self, the soul. "An" means to breath, an association frequently made with soul in religious traditions.

Avidya:
In Hinduism this is one of the conditions involved in samsara and reincarnation, meaning ignorance. This is ignorance of spiritual perception, not book knowledge. The origin of tanha (craving) is avidya (ignorance), where tanha is what keeps the living in the cycle of samsara. We can see this reflected in the third noble truth, where the source of greed is illusion, and in order to overcome illusion we must overcome avidya, ignorance.

Bakufu:
The samurai "tent government" of Japan, commonly called the Shogunal government. There were three Shogunates, each embraced Zen practice, making it the religion of the samurai, and the civic religion.

B.C.E.:
Before the Christian (or Common) Era. Commonly seen as B.C., meaning before Christ, though Christ was actually born in 6 B.C.E. See also C.E.

Bhakti:
Form of Yoga emphasizing the control of emotions; the way to god through love.

Bodhgaya:
The name of the area Gautama Siddharta was in when he was enlightened and became the Buddha.

Bodhi:
Perfect wisdom and enlightenment. See buddhi.
erkendelse, den højeste oplysning.

Bodhidharma:
(Daruma in Japanese) In this book he is credited with popularizing Ch'an during the early sixth century C.E. He is also considered, in this book, to be the first eccentric Zen master. Other researchers have credited Bodhidharma with being the founder of Zen. See also Tao-sheng.

Bodhisattva:
Gautama used this term to describe himself when he was seeking enlightenment. The Mahayana use this term to identify those who have attained bodhi, but chose not to enter nirvana and become a Buddha. Instead, they vow to provide salvation for every living thing, "every blade of grass."
erkendelses-væsen. Betegnelse for Siddharta Gautama, inden han når fuld oplysning.
I tibetansk buddhisme betegner ordet det religiøse ideal:
et menneske, der har nået oplysningen og kunne indgå i nirvana, men som for at kunne hjælpe alle levende til frelsen giver afkald på dette og frivilligt lader sig genføde. (Se også tulku).

Bompu:
Ordinary Zen, free from philosophical or religious contents, and is practiced for the sole purpose of improving one's physical and mental being.

Bonno:
A function of the mind that brings trouble, passion, illusion. Deshimaru states, "Desires are natural; they become bonno when there is attachment" (p. 140).

Bo Tree:
Also called the Bodhi Tree. The tree Gautama Siddharta sat under, and when he arose he was the Buddha. According to tradition this was an asvattha tree, though there is no historical evidence to support this belief.

Botsudan:
A shrine of the Buddha. This name is used to designate those shrines both in temples and in private homes in Japan.

Brahman:
The cosmic ocean, where the soul (atman) is disolved upon death. This ocean is the cosmic soul in Hindu tradition.

Brahmin:
The Hindu caste system has four major castes, which in order of rank are:
servants, merchants, warriors (ruling caste), and the brahmin. The brahmin is the highest caste, the priestly caste. Members of the brahmin caste may attain moksha, the escape from samsara. Members of the other castes must work their way up in the castes through the cycle of reincarnation, by balancing their karma. The brahmin must maintain a balanced karma in order to attain moksha.

Buddha:
The awakened; forever enlightened. Buddha Gautama did not claim to be the first Buddha nor the last. He frequently mentioned previous Buddha's. These have never been proven to historically exist, and were probably made up by Gautama just to make his point. Gautama did not wish to be worshipped.
den oplyste. Betegnelse for Siddharta Gautama fra Shakya-slægten, da han har nået sin fulde erkendelse under bo-træet. Historien herom er gengivet i den såkaldte Buddha-legende, som er bevaret i en 1000 år senere variant; trods den begrænsede historiske værdi heraf rummer Buddha-legenden mange centrale buddhistiske træk.
I mahayana-buddhismen opereres der med et stort antal buddhaer og bodhisattvaer; Siddharta Gautama betegnes her som "den historiske Buddha" eller som Shakyamuni:
den viise fra Shakya-slægten.
I al buddhisme regnes med flere buddhaer, der har optrådt på forskellige tider for at vejlede mennesker til frelse. Den næste buddha, der skal komme, hedder Maitreya.

Buddha-mind:
The mind of one who has been awakened to the desire for enlightenment. This is the intent behind the act of releasing Buddha-nature. It is also the inherent wisdom and enlightenment that exists in all sentient beings.

Buddha-nature:
The original nature of all people, which is harmonious and non-dualistic. This is always present, whether it is ever realized or not. It is a concrete expression used to signify perfection.

Buddhi:
(Bodhi) Enlightenment or awakening; to awake or become conscious; perfect enlightenment or wisdom. Brandon notes three kinds:
the disciple of the Buddha, the isolated and independently attained enlightened one, and the universal Buddha who also independently attained enlightenment and proclaims that enlightenment to others.

Buddhistisk etik:
Omfatter fx. ikke-vold, rationel eftertanke, tolerance, moderat holdning, medfølelse (overfor alle levende væsner), sympatiserende glæde (når det går andre godt), gavmildhed, selvdisciplin, udholdenhed.

Buji:
"No matter." An attitude acquired toward Zen, in which the individual does not practice because of the rationality that we are all originally buddhas. This is decieving, as these individuals push themselves further from their Buddha-nature.

Bushi:
The samurai, the ruling elite within the Shogunal system of government. Above the bushi were the Daimyo, who were higher ranking bushi. The Daimyo were directly responsible to the Shogunate.

Bön-religionen:
gammel shamanistisk naturreligion i Tibet. Er i nogen grad groet sammen med buddhismen i den tibetanske buddhismes form, men findes stadig som selvstændig religion. De shamanistiske træk i den tibetanske buddhisme praktiseres især i folkereligionen i Tibet. I filosofien smelter de delvis sammen med tantriske tanker.

ca.:
Abbreviation for circa, a Latin term meaning about, or around. Used to signify dates that we are not exactly certain of.

C.E.:
Christian Era or Common Era. A term preferred over A.D. (Anno Domini- the year of the domination or rule of our lord Christ), because it removes the Christian religious element, out of respect for other calendars and religions.

Chakra:
(Cakra) The centers of force that are within specific organs of the body. These organs "collect, transform, and distribute the forces flowing through them" (Kapleau, p.15).

Ch'an:
Chinese name for Zen.

Ch'i:
In Taoism this is the energy of life, somewhat equivelant to ki in Japanese.

Civic Religion:
Popular cultural elements and institutions that bring a community together. An example would be democracy, which is a civic religion in Western nations like the United States. The institution of democracy brings the people of the U.S. together, binding them. Zen is a civic religion of Japanese culture.

Confucius:
Romanized name of K'ung Fu Tse. His teachings set the social framework for Chinese society. This framework was copied by other countries in East and Southeast Asia.

Consciousness:
In Buddhism there are eight classes of consciousness. The first five are the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing), the sixth is thought, the seventh is manas, and the eighth is alaya-vinana.

Cravaka:
Sanskrit name for the Four Noble Truths.

Daijo:
The Mahayana way of Zen, the Great Vehicle. Practitioners must be able to see into their true natures and put forth their beliefs, their way, in their daily lives. Thus they actualize their true nature. This is the form of Zen most emphasized in the Rinzai school.

Daishi:
Name used as a title for a great master. See also Zenji.

Dao:
A way of transliterating Tao.

Dharana:
The sixth element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning concentration.

Dharma (Dhamma):
Translated as law. In Buddhism, the Dharma is the canonical texts.
læren. Buddha-dharmaen er buddhisternes egen betegnelse for buddhisme. Dharma'en symboliseres i kunsten som et hjul med 8 eger:
den otteleddede vej til frelsen (Benares-talen). Den otteleddede vej kaldes også middelvejen (mellem luksuriøs overdådighed og pinefuld asketisk livsførelse) - også Middelvejen er en betegnelse for buddhisme.

Dharma Dual:
A verbal contest of wisdom of the Dharma. Traditionally, wandering monks could stay in a monastery as long as they continued winning Dharma duals.

Dharma Heir:
One who is designated as the successor of a master or teacher, one who has apprehended the transmission. Mahakasyapa was the Dharma Heir of Buddha Gautama. See also Transmission.

Dharma-kaya:
Kaya means body; this is the body of the law of Buddha, the eternal law. It is one of the three aspects of Buddha, in which everything in the cosmos is one.

Dharma Successor:
One who has reached the same level of enlightenment as his or her master, and as such replaces the master when the master dies. This has nothing to do with status within the monastery. Many masters have named the lowest persons in their monastery to be their Dharma successors.

Dharma Talk:
A lecture given on the Dharma or any other Buddhist topic. See also teisho.

Dhyana:
The seventh element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning meditation. It is equivalent to Zen and Ch'an, which are transliterations of dhyana.

Disciple:
One who follows or accepts a teaching or teacher; a pupil; a student of a particular school, religion, master, or teacher.

Do:
Translated simply as "the way."

Dogen Zenji:
Brought the Soto school to Japan. Lived from ca. 1200 to 1253 C.E.

Dojo:
A center of training for Zen.

Dokusan:
A period of interaction between a Zen student and a Zen teacher, which is done according to a regular schedule. This is a personal encounter, in which the teacher is able to probe and stimulate the student's understanding, and the student is able to ask questions directly related to practice. Since everything is Zen practice, questions can be asked about anything. This is different from a mondo only slightly, because this involves an individual and a mondo can be done in a group. Mondo is similar enough that it is often used.

Dukkha:
Pain, suffering. This is not a pessimistic view of reality, it is actually optimistic, it is an affirmation, a confirmation. Dukkha also represents a fever or illness. It is the first noble truth. It is also the second of the three characteristics of existence. See also anatta, anicca, and ti-lakkhana.
betegnelse for livets essentielle egenskab:
frustrerende, utilfredsstillende karakter, hvad der især hænger sammen med tilværelsens foranderlighed.

Dødebogen:
I Den tibetanske Dødebog fremstilles læren om, hvad man kan gøre for at nå frelsen i den tilstand, man indgår i, lige efter at man er død (bardo-tilstanden). Der hersker således endnu en chance for at frelses, hvis man ikke har nået det i dette liv - men chancen er lille og bardoen er fyldt med farer - så man må være forberedt på at trækkes i retning af en ny inkarnation i en af de seks genfødselsverdener: guders verden, halvguders verden, menneskers verden, dyrenes verden, dæmonernes/åndernes verden, helvedesverdenen. (Disse verdener repræsenterer hver for sig også sindstilstande, der kan opleves i et almindeligt menneskeliv).

Effort:
The energy put into meditation, conduct, and knowledge.

Ego:
The individual or self; in Buddhism the ego is an illusion, which helps to perpetuate all illusion.

Eightfold Path:
The way Buddha Gautama prescribed to reduce universal suffering. The eight elements are right:
understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. The divisions of the Eightfold Path, with the religious divisions in parentheses, are:
knowledge (faith), conduct (morality), and meditation.

Eisai Zenji:
Brought the Rinzai school to Japan. Lived ca. 1141 to 1215 C.E.

Ekagrata:
One of the purposes of Yoga practice, to attain ekagrata which is the state of single-pointedness.

Enlightenment:
A state in which one is aware of one's true nature. This is not necessarily a state of complete awareness, which would be nirvana.

Eternal Now:
Living in the moment, the now.

Fact:
That which is real, not necessarily what is believed (truth).

Faith:
A belief; in the religious sense, faith is a belief in the supernatural or whatever other force brings the believers together. Faith has nothing to do with fact.

Five Sins:
Killing one's father or mother, or an arhat; shedding the blood of Buddha; and destroying the harmony of the sangha.

Four Noble Truths:
The central theme of Buddhism, and was first thing Buddha Gautama taught, in his Sermon at Deer Park. The Four Noble Truths are:
pain is universal, the cause of pain is greed, the source of greed is illusion (maya), following the Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of pain, greed, and illusion. See also:
Dukkha, Tanha, Maya, and Eightfold Path.

Four Signs:
The signs that would make Gautama seek enlightenment. These are: old age, sickness, death, and a holy man (an ascetic).

Four Vows:
Vows taken by bodhisattvas, that are regularly recited in zendos after zazen. 1) All beings I vow to liberate, without number or prejudice. 2) I vow to uproot all the endless blind passions. 3) I vow to penetrate every level of truth. 4) I vow to attain the path and way of the Buddha and the Dharma.

Fushiryo:
Not thinking, as opposed to hishiryo's beyond thought. Not thinking is not a good state of mind, it is a state of non-awareness, where hishiryo has awareness.

Gassho:
Raising the hands, with palms together, in a gesture of respect, humility, or gratitude, or all three.

Gedo:
Non-Buddhist Zen; Zen without Buddhist teachings. Often associated with mysticism and super-natural powers, which are usually what is being sought by its practitioners.

Gnostic:
Knowledge that is so pure that it cannot be explained or proven wrong, because it is real fact transcending time and space.

Godo:
In a Soto zendo, the monk in charge of the zendo, second to the roshi. This is approximately equivelant to the jikijitsu in Rinzai monasteries.

Hanka:
Japanese name for the half lotus position of meditation. In this position, one of the two feet is brought up and the back of the foot is pressed against the opposite inner thigh.

Hara:
The center of awareness, as well as the center of a person's gravity, energy, and activity; located just below the naval, in the lower abdomen. It is literally the intestines. Zazen and correct practice are supposed to strengthen the hara.

Hatha:
Form of Yoga, to which the practice of postures and breathing control belong.

Hinayana:
Name given by the Mahayana to the other schools of Buddhism that preceded it. The preferred name for these schools is Theravada.

Hishiryo:
Beyond thought; thinking without thought; sunyata of thinking and thought.

Hossen:
Japanese word for Dharma dueling.

Hui-yuan:
A Buddhist monk, who lived ca. 337-417 C.E. He is credited with founding the Pure Land sect of Buddhism.

Inka:
(Inka Shomei) The seal of approval; a formal acknowledgement of a student's completion of Zen training. This does not imply mastery, merely the completion of a program, such as passing a set of prescribed koans. It is a sign, by the master, of being satisfied with the student's level of understanding.

I-shin den-shin:
To be transmitted without words; "from my soul to yours."

Is-ness:
The immediate state of being; being the now of being, and being.

Jakugo:
As part of koan practice, this is a phrase or expression that summarizes or comments on all or part of a koan. It is used to illustrate the student's understanding of the koan. We see something similar in our school system, where children are required to define a word in their own words, so that the teacher knows that the student understands the meaning.

Jen:
see ren.

Jihi:
Giving happiness by saving all sentient beings from suffering. This is the goal of the bodhisattva.

Jikijitsu:
In a Rinzai zendo, the monk in charge of the zendo, second to the roshi. This is approximately equivelant to the godo in Soto monasteries.

Joriki:
The power of samadhi arising from proper zazen practice.

Jnana:
In Yoga, jnana is the way to god through knowledge.

Jujukinkai:
Japanese name for the ten precepts of the Mahayana school. See also jukai and precepts.

Jukai:
Taking the ten precepts of the Mahayana school. See also jujukinkai and precepts.

Kai:
(Kairitsu) See precepts.

Karma:
In Hindu tradition the karma is the record of all actions from all lives, the consequences for which are determined by the intentions of the act, not the consequences of the act. In Yoga, this is the form of practice that emphasizes work.
betyder summen af ens handlinger. I Upanishade-religionen (Indien, før og samtidig med buddhismens opståen) indføres begrebet og gennemarbejdes filosofisk:
at man samler sig karma, medfører at man genfødes;
god karma bevirker, at man får en god genfødsel;
dårlig karma bevirker, at men får en dårlig genfødsel;
Da buddhismens (såvel som den hinduistiske upanishadereligions) stræben tilsigter, at man ikke genfødes, idet livet er dukkha, udtænkes det, hvordan man kan "overvinde" sin karma eller undgå at samle sig karma, for at komme ud af genfødslernes kredsløb.

Karuna:
Japanese term meaning satori wisdom and compassion.

Kasyapa:
First to receive the "transmission of the lamp." See Mahakasyapa.

Katsu:
(or kwatz; in Chinese it is ho) As with mu, this word has no exact meaning. It is used by masters to help students to overcome dualisms and ego-centric thoughts.

Keiso:
A bowl-shaped bronze gong, used during chanting in all the Buddhist sects of Japan. Small keisos are available in curio shops all over the United States. They are commonly called meditation gongs. All keisos are struck on the rim with a padded club. Full-sized keisos are struck with a padded club using both hands.

Kenchuto:
The state and condition of absolute naturalness.

Kendo:
The way of the sword; the art of fencing and swordsmanship.

Kensho:
The first experience of satori, consciousness; an abrupt awakening usually acquired after vigorous stimulation. Many students mistake this for satori, enlightenment, and even Nirvana. Kensho is generally counterproductive, as the student has "tasted" the experience, and subsequently tries to achieve the experience again. Usually used by the Rinzai school. Kensho means literally, "seeing into one's own true nature," and is often used interchangeably with satori.

Kesa:
Symbolic robe of the transmission from a master to a disciple. Traditionally, Buddha made his kolomo from sheets used to wrap bodies in for cremation, which he found along the banks of the Ganges River, where the dead were cremated. A kolomo or kesa made this way is a transformation of the lowest of fabrics to the most beautiful and holy.

Ki:
The energy of the spirit. This is not the soul or the ego, it is only energy. It is also activity, and the energy of the cosmos and everything within the cosmos, especially in living things.

Kinhin:
Walking in contemplation; walking meditation; Zen practice while walking; a focussed, quick paced walking zazen. Often done between periods of zazen or meditation.

Knowledge:
In Eastern traditions, knowledge is equated with intuition, not just information.

Koan:
A Zen riddle, used most notably in the Rinzai school as a tool for transmitting understanding. Any text that claims to have answers to koans is wrong, because the only answer is the experience of understanding.
en gåde, som zenmesteren stiller sine disciple - den kan ikke løses ved logik, som det gælder om at transcendere. Zendisciplen grubler ofte i årevis over denne gåde; ved dens løsning oplever han satori.

Kokoro:
Japanese word for heart, spirit, soul, and mind. The Japanese believe that the kokoro is in the chest area.

Kolomo:
Wide sleaved black monk's robe. Traditionally the kolomo is hand made from the cheapest materials that have been discarded. The kolomo is very personal to a monk, since the monk put all the patches together and died it. See kesa.

Kotsu:
A fifteen inch long baton, shaped like the human spine, used by masters when monitoring a meditation session. As with the kyosaku, the master may strike or poke a meditator in order to encourage or awaken.

Ku:
Japanese word equivelant to sunyata.

Kundalini:
A name used in Yoga for a snake like inner energy, that is wrapped around the abdominal region of the body. This is somewhat related to ki, ch'i, and te.

Kung Fu Tse:
Chinese name for Confucius.

Kusen:
Teaching while in the correct sitting position for zazen.

Kyosaku:
An "awakening stick." The kyusaku is a long stick with a flattened end, used by monitros during a meditation session. The monitors use kyosakus to encourage and awaken the meditators, stiking them between the neck and shoulder. This is also relaxing if done properly, relieving tension as the area being struck is a pressure point.

Lama:
lærer i tibetansk buddhisme. Tilknyttet et kloster e.l.

Lao Tse:
Also Lao Tzu. Supposed founder of Taoism, and author of the Tao Te Ching.

Li:
In this text li (pronounced lee-ee) means ritual. There are two other forms that frequently appear. The most frequent is a unit of measure for distance, equivelant to about one-half of kilometer, or one-third of a mile.

Livelihood:
The means by which we make a living, support ourselves.

Lotus:
Symbol of purity and perfection, Buddha-nature.

Lotus Position:
The position that Buddha is depicted in. In meditation, the feet are brought up, and the backs of both feet are pressed against the opposite inner thighs.

Maha:
Literally means "greater."

Mahakasyapa:
A disciple named Kasyapa was called this after he had understood Buddha Gautama's silent sermon. When Buddha held out a flower in silence, Kasyapa smiled in understanding. Then Buddha gave Kasyapa the flower signifying the first transmission.

Mahaprajna:
Great wisdom; the wisdom of the Buddhas.

Mahayana:
The Greater Raft/Vehicle. One of the four main branches of Buddhism, emphasizing salvation for the regular people. The Mahayana school uses the vernacular language to convey its teachings. It was founded some time after Asoka, from his example of spreading Buddhism. It is practiced in China and Japan.

Makyo:
Japanese word meaning fantasies and hallucinations.

Manas:
The level of consciousness where illusion is generated, it is the subconscious.

Manjusri:
The bodhisattva of meditation and supreme wisdom. He is usually depicted riding a lion, carrying the sword of wisdom, which is supposed to cut through illusion. He is frequently the principal figure on the altar of a zendo.

Mantra:
hellige stavelser og ord, hvis virkning beror på både betydningen og vibrationen. Oftest sanskrit-ord (udtales evt. på tibetansk!). Men også japanske og kinesiske mantraer findes.

Master:
The guide of the traveler (student). Roshi is a better term, if it is used without trying to imply a status.

Maya:
Name attributed to Gautama Siddharta's mother. More importantly, maya is translated as illusion, and is used to describe reality.

Medfølelse:
I mahayana den vigtigste etiske egenskab. I (tibetansk) tantrisk buddhisme regnes aktiv medfølelse for den karakteristiske ideale indstilling hos manden, mens passiv visdom er den karakteristiske ideale indstilling hos kvinden. Man stræber efter begge idealer - enheden af dem er idealet. Se tantrisk filosofi.

Meditation:
De tre sidste trin i den otteleddede vej (se dharma), omfatter den rette tanke (koncentration, at gøre sine tanker rette som pile), den rette besindelse (awareness, fuld opmærksomhed på alt, hvad der foregår i og omkring en) og den rette selvfordybelse (den egentlige meditation).
Meditation er en rituel praksis, der omfatter et meget stort spektrum af metoder, som alle tilsigter, at bevidsthedsenergien  vendes indad; i buddhismen fører meditationen til "sindsro, fuldstændig indsigt og nirvana".
Man koncentrerer sig fx om et bestemt emne, siger eller "chanter" et mantra, visualiserer et synsbillede, en guddom, en geometrisk figur, samler sig om sit eget åndedræt, hvad man hører, sine egne tanker - for længere henne i fordybelsen at kunne slippe koncentrationen og nå den absolut tanke-frie tilstand, nirvana, Buddha-tilstanden - en sindstilstand, der rummer fred i sjælen, intuitiv erkendelse og lykke.

Mindfulness:
A state of awareness, of oneself and others, as well as nature.

Moksha:
In Hindu tradition, the escape from samsara, which can only be attained by a member of the brahmin caste, with a balanced karma.

Mokugyo:
An instrument, made of hollowed wood in the shape of a fish. Like the keiso, this is struck with a padded club during sutra chanting in Chinese Buddhist temples. The fish is an important symbol in Zen, since fish never sleep and are forever aware and watchful.

Mondo:
Related to the Japanese word mondai, meaning to question, mondo may mean the way of the gate (mon), or to the crest (mon). Each of these connotations fits the purpose of mondo. During mondo the master asks questions quickly, and the student must respond quickly. This is done to prevent the student from thinking, to allow intuition to control. Used notably in the Rinzai school.

Mo Tse:
A philosopher who rebelled against Confucianism, and taught universal love and utilitarianism.

Mu:
A negative prefix, somewhat equivalent to "non," "un," or "in." A classical riddle since Master Joshu used it in response to the koan "Does a dog have Buddha nature?" Mu is also a koan used for meditation. Because of its simplicity and that neither intellect nor imagination are fed by it, nor provide a solution for it. It is also used to mean no-thing.

Mujo:
The impermanent condition of everything.

Mushin:
No mind, spirit, soul, nor intuition.

Mushotoku:
The optimum state for Zen practice, in which there is no goal or object, no intention for self gain or profit.

Naisan:
An unscheduled and secret visit with a roshi at any time of the day or night, when there are special circumstances to warrant the unscheduled visit.

Nembutsu:
"Calling the name." Used by the Pure Land sect, to ritually call the name of Amitabha Buddha, as an assurance of faith that Amitabha will provide a rebirth into the land of the Buddha, the Pure Land.

Nirvana (Nibbana):
The ultimate state of awareness, and the penultimate state of harmony. It is second in harmony to para-nirvana.

Nirvana:
Sanskrit ord, der betyder slukkes (om en flamme, et lys). Betegnelse for en sindstilstand, der nåes gennem meditation, det højeste stadium i meditationens faser. Desuden betegnelse for den tilstand, man indgår i ved døden, hvis man har nået frelse og således ikke længere vil blive genfødt (kaldes også - for at skelne den fra den mere psykologiske term - parinirvana:
fuldstændig, absolut nirvana).
I mahayana tales der oftere end om nirvana om at opdage sin egen Buddha-natur eller at indgå i Buddha-tilstanden, en tilstand af "klarhed, fuldstændig erkendelse og ubeskrivelig lykke".
I forskellige retninger i buddhismen tilføjes (til den generelt-buddhistiske forståelse af nirvana som ikke-genfødsel) forskellige andre aspekter af nirvana-tanken:
paradislignende tilstand, enhed med al energi i altet m.v.

Niyama:
The second element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning disciplines.

Oryoko:
The bowls given to a Buddhist upon being ordained, particularly the largest of these bowls that is used for begging and eating. This word means, "that which holds just enough."

Pali:
Ancient language used by the Mahayana, because it was the vernacular language.

Paranayama:
The fourth element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning breathing control.

Para-nirvana (Pari-nibbana):
The ultimate state of harmony within the ultimate state of awareness. Para means death, so this is death while in a state of nirvana, returning the physical being to the cosmos, and escaping samsara.

Patriarch:
In Buddhism, the patriarchs are the Dharma heirs, the great masters who have formally received the transmission of Buddha's Dharma. Patriarch is a poor term, since there has also been female masters, but is commonly used anyway, especially in the West.

Philosophy:
The search for and love of wisdom.

Prajna:
Essential wisdom. Prajna Paramita is wisdom perfection.

Pratyahara:
The fifth element in the path of classical Yoga, meaning the elimination of the outer perceptions.

Pratyekabuddha:
Solitary practitioners who attain Buddhahood without a teacher. These are private Buddhas.

Precepts:
Teachings regarding personal conduct; rules of conduct, especially for the ordained. Also called kai. In the Mahayana school there are ten precepts that must be avoided: killing, stealing, lying, drinking alcohol or selling alcohol to be drank, speaking badly of others, praising oneself while disparaging others, not willingly giving spiritual or material aid, anger, or disparaging the Three Treasures (Buddha Gautama, the Dharma, and the sangha).

Proselytizing:
Actively seeking to convert others to one's own beliefs.

Puja:
kult, der udføres i templet og hjemme. Der kan indgå offer (blomster, røgelse, frugt), studier, mantraer, bønner m.m..

Pure Land:
Form of Buddhism that survived the persecution of Buddhism in the ninth century C.E. in China. This school emphasizes meditation to see the Pure Land (the land we go to when we die, a western paradise, purity revealed in enlightenment) and Amitabha Buddha. Founded by Hui-yuan ca. 402 C.E. Oldest and least philosophical school of Mahayana Buddhism in China. Also called:
White Lotus sect by Hui Yuan, Ching T'u (in China), and Jodoshu (in Japan).

Rahula:
Son of Gautama Siddharta and Yasodhara.

Raja:
The way to god through psychophysical exercise in Yoga. This is the royal way of Yoga, but not the fastest way to self realization.

Rakusu:
A small kolomo/kesa worn during work.

Religion:
Derived from the Latin word religio, meaning to bind or bring together. Religion is that which brings people together.

Ren:
From Confucianism, ren is the principle of humaneness.

Retninger i buddhismen:
theravada, den gamle skole, er det officielle navn på den sydlige buddhisme (Sri Lanka og Sydøstasien); den kaldes dog oftest hinayana (oprindelig en kritisk betegnelse fra modstandernes side):
den lille vogn, hvor hver kører for sig selv - i modsætning til mahayana, den store vogn, hvor man kan køre sammen, dvs hjælpe hinanden, hvor man altså kan få hjælp hos bodhisattvaer og lamaer. Mahayana er den nordlige buddhisme (Kina og Japan; her bl.a. som zenbuddhisme og som nichiren-buddhisme); desuden findes den centralasiatiske buddhisme, vajrayana, diamantvejen, som er en underafdeling af mahayana (Tibet, Mongoliet, Nepal); den kaldes også simpelthen tibetansk buddhisme eller lamaisme; den er en tantrisk form for buddhisme, inspireret af indisk tantra, og den inkorporerer træk fra den gamle tibetanske bön-religion, hvis træk i den tibetanske filosofi stort set fortolkes tantrisk (se tantra).
Buddhisme i Danmark findes i flere varianter; mest kendt er den danske tibetanske buddhisme (buddhistcenteret på Svanemøllevej, grundlagt af Ole og Hannah Nydahl sidst i 70'erne), men her er også tilhængere af theravada, zen og nichiren, og i japansk og koreansk kampsportstræning indgår ofte buddhistiske træk.

Rinzai:
School of Zen emphasizing the use of koans. It is a teacher centered school, where meditation is done facing the center of the room. The Rinzai school was brought to Japan by Eisai.

Roshi:
"Venerable teacher." Generally one who presides over a monastery, the master, who gives Zen instruction. This title is best used as a non-title, as the office of Roshi is not one of status, but of being. The roshi can be a layman or laywoman, whose function is to guide disciples, not to dominate, control, or influence the private lives of the disciples.

Ru ja:
Chinese name for the school of Confucius (Confucianism).

Saijojo:
The form of Zen that emphasizes realization without support, through shikan-taza. This is the form of Zen most emphasized in the Soto school.

Samadhi:
A state of higher concentration in meditation. There are three stages in Buddhism (preparation, beginning, and attainment of concentration). Samadhi is the eighth element in the classical path of Yoga, meaning absorption, becoming one with, harmonizing. There are two forms of samadhi in Yoga (with and without support). The greater form of samadhi in Yoga is without support.

Sampai:
The prostrating bows performed during practice, where the forehead touches the ground and the hands are held palms up next to the head. The hand gesture is symbolic, according to tradition, of recieving the feet of Buddha. This is a sign of profound respect and reverence, although not necessarily for Buddha or any other thing in particular. It is respect for the self, and a position that teaches humility and impermanence.

Samsara:
The endless cycle of reincarnation; transmigration. Literally means to move about continuously.
betyder kredsløb af fødsler, reinkarnation. I Indien betragtes samsara som uønsket, og frelsesvejene tilsigter at undgå genfødsel.
For den almindelige lægmands-buddhist opleves det nok som meningsgivende, at han dels kan arbejde på at få et godt næste liv (gennem sin karma), og at han dels ved, at det er hans eget ansvar, hvis hans nuværende liv ikke har givet ham gode betingelser (fx fattigdom eller fysiske handicaps). Der er ingen grund til at føle afmagt, når man kender årsagerne og kan gøre noget ved tingene! Men det egentlige og endelige ønske er at frelses:
at komme ud af samsara, ud af livet.
I kunsten, især i Tibet, afbildes samsara som et livshjul, der viser årsagskædens tolv trin, de seks genfødselsverdener, de tre ting der driver hjulet:
had, begær og uvidenhed, Mara (begær- og dødsgud) der omklamrer hjulet, og udenfor livshjulet Buddha, der peger på frelsen og metoderne til at nå den.

(Tanken om reinkarnation har i nogen grad slået an i Vesten (sammen med andre indiske fænomener som meditations- og yogapraksis, ikke-vold og tolerance), også udenfor de religioner, den stammer fra; men i Vesten betragtes genfødsel oftest som et lykkeligt fænomen:
livet ophører ikke med døden, man får flere chancer, man kan med sin karma arbejde på et bedre liv næste gang - og forandring fryder!)

Samu:
Working Zen practice, especially physical labor.

Sangha:
A group, who together practice religious Buddhism; a community of Buddhist practitioners. Also used to refer to the Buddhist monastic order.

Sanzen:
An interview of a student by a master. Used especially in the Rinzai school.

Satori:
A state of consciousness, often associated with enlightenment. Satori is an awareness of Buddha nature, similar to Tao-sheng's concept of enlightenment. In this text satori is placed one step below enlightenment. Satori is essential wisdom (prajna) for the practice of Zen. See also kensho.
pludselig erkendelse af Buddha-naturen (tomhedsnaturen) i en selv - målet for zen-buddhisten.

Seiza:
Traditional Japanese sitting posture, with the buttocks on the heels of the feet, large toes crossed, and a straight posture. This is a typical posture assumed in martial arts dojos.

Shastra:
A commentary on a sutra.

Shikan-taza:
Meditation without any object, without counting, focus on breathing, nor koans. It is intense sitting, where there is unshakeable conviction that zazen is the actualization, and there is nothing else to gain. At the root, this frame of thought realizes that there is not a struggle involved in the attainment of satori.

Shojo:
The Hinayana form of Zen, or Lesser Vehicle. This form, as opposed to the Daijo, is very individualistic, intending to take only the practitioner from maya to nirvana.

Shunya:
Tom.

Shunyata: tomhed er et nøglebegreb i mahayana-filosofi: verden er tomhed, tomhed er verden. Paradokspræget filosofi (Hjertesutraen handler herom); samsara og shunyata er de to vigtigste modsætninger i den relative virkelighed; i den absolutte virkelighed kan de imidlertid erkendes og anskues som en enhed.

Skandha:
The five elements that comprise an individual. These are: form (rupam), perception through the senses (vedana), thought (samjna), conformation (samskara), and consciousness (vijnana).

Sodo:
A dojo that is used for training monks.

Son:
Korean name for Zen.

Sosan:
Listening to the general lectures of the roshi, the Dharma talks. This is usually mandatory for beginners, and is done in groups.

Soto:
School of Zen emphasizing meditation and formalism. It is a student centered school, where students determine their own koans. Meditation is performed facing the walls of the dojo. This school was brought to Japan by Dogen.

Speech:
Any act of communicating a thought, either orally, in writing, by gesticulation, or body language.

Student:
In Zen a student is a traveler, one who is practicing Zen under a master or teacher to find self-awareness. The student is really his or her own teacher, though they usually do not know this until they have been enlightened. In this book, student does not mean one who studies Zen academically.

Stupa:
Hellig buddhistisk bygning, oprindelig relikviegemme. Man praktiserer bl.a. ved at gå rundt om bygningen. I tibetansk buddhisme er der indføjet bedemøllehjul i muren; når man drejer dem, ligesom når man håndbetjener en bedemølle, spredes velsignelsen og energien fra de bønner og mantraer, der står på papirstrimler, som ligger i dem. Samme princip som i at hænge bedeflag op.

Sunyata:
Emptiness or void. Though this sounds negative, sunyata is actually positive, it is an affirmation. Emptiness is not void. Emptiness is not empty. Empty without emptiness.

Sutra (Sutta):
Derived from the word to sew, it is a thread of discourse; a discourse given by a master (teacher) to disciples. Literally translated, it is a thread used to string jewels upon. In the Tripitaka the sutras are the portion containing the teachings of Buddha Gautama.
kortere eller længere afsnit i religiøst buddhistisk værk, "kapitel", "bog".

Tada:
The state of being absorbed in every moment; is-ness; in the eternal now.

Takuhatsu:
The system that is used by Zen monks who are in training, to beg for their food. This is generally done in groups of ten to fifteen. The group goes through the street single-file, chanting "Ho" (meaning Dharma), and sympathizers come down and fill their alms bowls. This is the monks offering of the Dharma and their lives of guardians of the Dharma to the people. According to Zen tradition, the givers should be grateful (Reps & Senzaki, p. 48).

Tan:
Wooden platform used for sleeping and meditation, built along the wall of a zendo.

Tanden:
See hara.

Tanha:
(trishna) The desire for personal fulfillment or gain. Tanha is the second noble truth, the cause of dukkha is tanha (suffering is greed, desire).

Tantra:
bruges omtrent i betydningen bevidsthedsudvidelse. Omfatter specielle meditationer, brug af mantra, tegning af mandala-figurer, fysiske og mentale yogametoder o.a.
Tantrisk filosofi (Indien, Tibet) opfatter verden som en enhed af de to modsatte principper mandligt og kvindeligt. Lighed med yang-yin-tanker. I kunsten er den højeste enhed mellem disse to principper oftest symboliseret ved samlejesituationer af mandlig og kvindelig bodhisattva. I kulten symboliseres de to sider ved brugen af vajra (det maskuline) og klokke (det feminine).

Tao:
Translated it means the way (Chinese). In the form of the Tao in Taoism, Tao is the way of nature, which is undescribable. For Confucius the Tao is the way of man, society, and government, of relationships. For Zen, Tao is the way, it is Buddha-nature, Buddha-mind, reality.

Taoism:
A philosophy whose origins can be traced back to the seventh century B.C.E.

Tao-sheng:
A Buddhist monk, who lived ca. 360-434 C.E. He is credited with founding Ch'an (Zen). See also Bodhidharma.

Tathagata:
Name used by Buddha Gautama to refer to himself, meaning "thus come." Some authors feel this is a sign of his enlightened state. I am inclined to recognize this as more like, "This is me, either accept me as I am or not. I do not care." By using this to refer to himself he was humbling his character, and at the same time he was providing a koan.

Te:
In Taoism, te is physical power, the power of nature, the cosmos, man, and everything. In Confucianism, te also means compassion (ren). Compassion and power are important together.

Teisho:
Orally transmitting the Dharma in the form of a lecture. This is often a formal commentary on a koan, by a master. It is supposed to be non-dualistic, which helps to distinguish it from a Dharma talk.

Theravada:
The preferred name for the school sometimes called Hinayana. This is the older school of Buddhism, that emphasizes asceticism; "thera" means elders,thus it is a school reserved for the elders of the faith, whose teachings are presented to future elders committed to asceticism. Prefer to use the Pali language, and adhere closer to Gautama's acts as a bodhisattva.

Thought:
The way we process information, both facts and truths.

Three Treasures:
(Three Jewels; Tri-ratna) The three central elements or principal features of Buddhism. They are:
Buddha Gautama, the Dharma, and the sangha.

Three Worlds:
One of Buddhist cosmologies, in which the cosmos is divided into three parts:
Desire, Form, and Non-form. The first and last of these three represent attachment to the senses, and are undesirable. Those in the second level have a body but do not cling to the world of illusion and senses. In Zen practice the three worlds are also considered levels or dimensions of consciousness.

T'ien:
In Chinese tradition, this is translated as Heaven. T'ien is an important theme in Chinese religion, philosophy, and the Chinese conception of the dynasty and cycle.

Ti-lakkhana:
(Tri-laksana) The three aspects or characteristics of existence. These are:
anicca, dukkha, and anatta.

tilflugt:
hovedbekendelse i buddhismen: jeg tager min tilflugt til Buddha (ham der viste vejen), dharmaen (læren) og sanghaen (munkesamfundet, de oplyste). I vajrayana tager man desuden tilflugt til sin lama.

Tolerance:
vigtigt træk i buddhismens etik. Den ældste buddhistiske indskrift, man kender, stammer fra den nordindiske konge Ashoka, der over 300 år før vores tidsregning på en stensøjle lod indhugge sin beslutning om at tillade alle religioner og "sekter" i sit buddhistiske rige. Buddhismen i dag bestræber sig oftere på at finde positive træk i andre religioner og livsanskuelser end på at bekæmpe deres holdninger.
(Kristne kritikere af tolerance påpeger, at buddhister synes at omtolke andre religioner i tolerancens navn; fx ses Kristus som en slags bodhisattva; derved mister kristendommen sin historiske karakter og er så ikke mere rigtig kristendom).

Transmission/Transmission of the Lamp:
The first Transmission was to Kasyapa, then called Mahakasyapa. The transmission is the receiving of insight. Insight is not given or pursued, it is apprehended.

Tripitaka:
The three baskets, the Buddhist scriptures as one unit. The scriptures are divided into:
Vinayapitika-narratives on the establishment and rules of the sangha; Sutta-pitaka-dialogues of Buddha Gautama; and the Abidhamma-pitaka-where the sutras are reduced and given order by numbers under topic headings.

Truth:
That which is believed to be, not necessarily what really is (fact).

Tulku:
bevidst genfødt lama, der gennem forskellige tegn og tests genkendes af sit tidligere klosters munke i drengealderen. Nogle af tulkuerne kan huske deres tidligere tilværelse. En tulku regnes for en levende bodhisattva.

Udtale af indiske ord:
der bruges sædvanligvis engelsk "lydskrift" i gengivelsen af indiske ord; j (i vajra) udtales altså som i John, mens y (mahayana) udtales som dansk j.

Unsui:
The novices in a Zen monastery. The word literally means cloud-water. Novices are called this because clouds move about freely, without specific form and unhampered. Water is very powerful, able to wear down even the Earth, but also has a yielding quality. The virtues of clouds and water are desired virtues to the zennist.

Upanishaderne:
filosofiske indiske skrifter, hvoraf nogle er samtidige med den tidligste buddhisme. Upanishade-tænkningen    fremsætter tankerne om dukkha (det frustrerende, foranderlige liv), karma og samsara for første gang (noget før 600 fvt). Som frelsesveje forkyndes en kombination af erkendelse og meditation.
Buddhistisk tænkning ligger ikke så fjernt fra Upanishadetænkningen, men da buddhismen i modsætning til Upanishaderne ikke anerkender Vedaerne, (de ældste indiske autoritative helligskrifter) og således ikke anerkender hverken kastesystemet eller brahminpræsternes ledende stilling, er den ikke en gren af hinduismen, men en selvstændig religion.

Utilitarianism:
Belief in the utility of acts; an act must have a benefit in order to be good. Western utilitarianism emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Vajra:
tordenkile (gammel attribut til indiske tordenguder; bruges i kulten i tibetansk buddhisme; se under tantra), betyder også diamant. Ordet har givet navn til vajrayana: diamantvejen, der er indbegrebet af diamantens egenskaber af kostbarhed og hård skarp effektivitet (hentyder til metoderne til at nå Buddha-tilstanden med). Se også retninger i buddhismen.

Vajrayana:
School of Buddhism practiced in Tibet; in Japan it is practiced as Shingon Buddhism. It is the Diamond Raft/Vehicle/Way. Vajrayana is not discussed in this book. Huston Smith discusses Vajrayana in his book The World's Religions.

Wato:
A word, phrase, or other response in answer to a koan.

Wei Wu Wei:
Taoist term, literally translated as action inaction, or action non-action.

Wu:
Chinese word for mu.

Yama:
The first element of the path of classical Yoga, meaning restraint. In Japanese yama means mountain.

Yasodhara:
Wife of Gautama Siddharta.

Yaza:
Zazen done after bedtime in the monastery, which would be after 9 P.M.

Yin and Yang:
Principle of polarity in Chinese cosmology, in which the opposite poles eventually blend and become one another in a cosmic connectedness.

Yoga:
Tradition that predates Hinduism, and emphasizes meditation for self realization.
sprogligt hænger ordet sammen med "åg", der fortolkes som   1) anspændelse for at opnå fuld kontrol over krop og sind
- og som
2) balance mellem krop og sind, (som et åg skal være i balance, når vandspandene hænger på det).
Yoga bruges i hinduismen som en betegnelse for frelsesvejene. Blandt andet sigter yogien på via meditation at opnå sindskontrol og fred i sindet, og derigennem den højeste intuitive erkendelse, der bringer frelse fra samsara.
I buddhismens beslægtede bestræbelser kan der ligeledes indgå både fysiske, mentale og åndedrætsmæssige yogaøvelser af forskellig art, ikke mindst i tibetansk buddhisme (jf. Dalai Lamas beskrivelse af sin livsførelse).
Hinduisme-yogaens tilstræbte erkendelse af at være ét med altet er dog ikke helt den samme i buddhismen, hvor man ønsker at indgå i nirvana, en ikke-eksistens:
at livsflammen slukkes, så man ikke genfødes. Se nirvana.

(Oftest bruges ordet yoga i Indien om det psykofysiske træningssystem, der ledsager megen indisk religion; yogatræning er ikke i sig selv noget religiøst, men mere en praktisk måde at opnå balance og kontrol på.
Som et sådant system har det vundet indpas i Vesten. Hvad der her hos os kaldes yoga, omfatter især fysiske stillinger, åndedrætsøvelser og meditationspraksis til bl.a. afspænding; man kan sagtens dyrke yoga fx på aftenskoler uden at være tilknyttet nogen form for indisk eller østlig religion!).

Yogi:
A practitioner of Yoga.

Zafu:
A cushion used for meditation. The function of the zafu is to raise the buttocks so that the knees are pressed firmly against the ground. During proper meditation the knees should be pushing the Earth down, and the sky (heavens) up. The zafu, in this way, helps to maintain correct posture during meditation, and is also essential to correct posture. Traditionally it is a firm cushion filled with kapok. Any cushion that will raise the buttocks so that the correct posture can be assumed will do, until you can acquire a proper zafu.

Zazen:
"sitting practice" to stop thinking; remaining open beyond dualistic, comparative and judgemental thought. Zazen is not an element of the experience of enlightenment, but it is said that zazen is enlightenment. Zazen is done without any goal or object of concentration.
siddende meditation i zen-buddhismen, vigtig disciplin.
Andre zen-discipliner går ud på at opdyrke en perfektion i en enkelt beskæftigelse, så den kan udføres spontant, i en bevidst-ubevidst sindstilstand. Sådanne beskæftigelser hænger nøje sammen med japansk kultur; fx forekommer bueskydning, sværdkamp, karate, judo og jujitsu; teceremonien, blomsterarrangement, tuschtegning, dans, haiku-digtning.

Zazenkai:
A one day sesshin, in which the practitioners partake in meditation, listening to Dharma talk and other Zen lectures, and receiving dokusan.

Zen:
Literally translated, zen means meditation. Zen is one of four major schools of Buddhism. The other schools are:
Mahayana, Theravada, Zen (or Ch'an or Son), and Vajrayana.

japansk ord for kinesisk chan, der igen stammer fra sanskrit dhyana: meditation.
Form for buddhisme, der udviklede sig i Kina og senere overførtes til Japan. Sammensmeltning af buddhisme i mahayana-skolen og taoistiske nøglebegreber.
Buddhanaturen (tomhedsnaturen) findes i mennesket, men zenbuddhisten  må selv gå en vej for at opdage det. Vejen følges af munke i zenklostre, en  særdeles hård disciplin gennemføres (se under koan og zazen). Ved siden af disse krav - bakket op af mestrenes strenge undervisning -  findes også forståelsen af, at det inderste i livet er hverdagens aktiviteter og hverdagssindet. Alt, hvad man gør under fuldstændig opmærksomhed og koncentration, er den rigtige vej.
Når man har oplevet satori (Buddha-naturen, enheden i tilværelsen, tomheden, befrielsen) forlader man sædvanligvis templet og lever et hverdagsliv som andre mennesker - men med en ny og helt anderledes bevidsthed.
Da man for at nå satori må overskride centrale formidlingsbegreber som sprog, logik og bevidst tænkning, er det umuligt at formidle zen ved traditionel undervisning:
Den, der ved, taler ikke
den, der taler, ved ikke.

Zendo:
A place where Zen is practiced. Many formal zendos are only a room. Some may be a building. Others may be a compound. The world is a zendo, as is any place we practice Zen.

Zenji:
(Ch'an-shih in Chinese) A highly venerated, greatly respected teacher or master. This is a title usually given after death, though some have had the misfortune of achieving this during life. Yes I do mean misfortune. Titles are not appealing to Zen masters.