Although the Rinzai branch is relatively small, and is in turn divided into sub-branches that often correspond to individual temples in Japan, Rinzai Zen is famously the fastest and most effective path to self realization. This is because Rinzai teachers emphasize direct experience over intellect or piety in their communication of the Buddha Dharma.
The living example today is Kyozan Joshu Sasaki, senior roshi of the Rinzai sect, founder and chief abbot of the Rinzaiji community in North America. Born in Japan in 1907, Joshu Roshi came to America in 1962 at the invitation of Zen enthusiasts in the Los Angeles area. He founded Rinzai-Ji, his principal Los Angeles temple, in 1968 and in the same year founded the Vancouver Zen Center in Canada. In 1972 he founded the Mount Baldy Zen Center in California, now the principal Rinzaiji training center, and in 1973 the Bodhi Manda Center in New Mexico. There are now 20 Zen centers throughout North America affiliated with Sasaki Roshi.
"Tozan" is the dharma name of the author and moderator of this blog, who for too brief a time was able to learn under Sasaki Roshi's guidance at the Vancouver Zen Center in the late 1960s. Thanks to the many homonyms of the Japanese language the name has several meanings, including "going on foot," "laboriously climbing" and, of course, the Japanese form of Tung-Shan, co-founder of the Chinese Ts'ao-Tung (Soto) school of Zen. That illustrious Tozan's verses outlining the Five Ranks, or five degrees of realization, are among the classical landmarks of Chinese Zen.
Although this blog deals primarily with Rinzai Zen, there is no contention that any school of Zen is superior to another. One's choice of a particular path is a matter of temperament more than technical competence. However at a time when a great deal of misinformation - and often outright nonsense! - is published under the purported banner of Zen there is a need for both accuracy and clarity in public discussions of this most important subject.
Just wanted to tip you off to a cool device in relation to your bug comment on my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteI capture spiders, moths, beetles and all other kinds of insects when they get in the house. I use a neat little device called the "Bug Buddy".
It's an easy to use and very effective bug catcher with an easy, no hassle release system to set them free outside. Plus it's a fun way to look at bugs up close. I'm a big advocate of the Bug Buddy and have advertised it here many times. I highly recommend it.
Here's the link:
Bug Buddy.
I admit though that I do sometimes kill some bugs that are a health hazard such as mosquitoes. I've had malaria before (4 times) so I'm do kill mosquitoes but I don't go out of my way to do so.
I think it's a balance like much in life--the middle path because we deserve to protect our own lives and health too. Sometimes we do have to kill things like parasites in the body as you mentioned. I draw the line when one goes out of their way to kill a being or lets one be killed out of a desire/lust for the taste of meat.
I'm not perfect but I try my best not to kill anything.
Good! The question of killing creatures always takes me to Lord Krishna's lecture in the Bhagavad Gita, where he sets Arjuna's priorities straight.
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