zen buddhism chapter 3 and 4 Flashcards
(40 cards)
1
Q
Kamakura and ashikaga periods
A
- printing confucian, buddhist, and shinto books
- haikyu
- no-gaku
- theater
- landscape
- gardening
- flower arrangement
- tea
2
Q
sung philosophy in china
A
- left brilliant records of general culture
- poets, artists, confucian philosophers, buddhist thinkers, zen masters
- sung philosophy is the flower of the chinese mind
- zen is stimulating and thought-provoking
- sung philosophy is the outcome of their spiritual adventures
- zen monks were also were also students on confucianism
3
Q
difference between zen and confucianism (in china)
A
- confucians based their philosophy on the native system
- zen buddhists adhered to their own although they adopted the confucian vocabulary
- difference between the 2 classes of mind lay in the placing of emphasis
- zen monk interpret the confucian texts in the indian fashion -> less idealistically
- zen acquired it practicalness from confucianism
- confucianism absorbed through the teaching of Zen
4
Q
zen (china)
A
- chinese way of responding to indian thought as represented by buddhism and that, this being so, zen, as it developed in the T’ang and later flourished in the sung
- chinese mentality
5
Q
zen teachings
A
-zen has no philosophy on its own
-teaching is concentrated on intuitive experience and the intellectual content of the experience can be supplied by a system of thought not necessarily buddhistic
-natural for Zen monks to become propagators of confuciansim
-
6
Q
5 mountains
A
- 5 zen monasteries in kyoto
- publishers of confucian and buddhist texts
- also has popular education books
7
Q
terakoya
A
- tera- buddhist temple
- ko- children
- ya- house
- terakoya system was the only institution of popular education during this time
8
Q
Keian
A
- zen monk
- teaches the four books of confucian but emphasis on zen in connection with confucian philosophy
- study of mind was the guiding spirit of his discipline
9
Q
muso
A
- one of the zen masters of the five mountains
- national teacher
10
Q
shaved head
A
- confucian scholars used to shave their heads like buddhist priests
- we gather that confucianism was kept up among the buddhists, especially zen monks
11
Q
shushi or chu hsi
A
- culmination of chinese intellectuality is found in his philosophy
- greatest among chinese thinkers who tried to systematize chinese thought along the lines of the psychology of the people (not indian)
12
Q
tai-chi
A
- origin of everything
- everything came from one principle
- god is one
- everything goes back to the one
- wu-chi- beyond everything
- defining it puts a limit on it
13
Q
two original currents of chinese thought
A
- confucianism and pure taoism
- confucianism- represents the practicality or positivism of chinese mentality
- taoism- represents its mystic and speculative trends
14
Q
pure taosim
A
-not colored by popular beliefs and superstitions
15
Q
wu
A
-nothingness
16
Q
sunyata
A
-emptiness
17
Q
Ch’un Ch’iu
A
- idea dominating the spring and autumn
- classical work compiled by confucius
- written by the master
- a view to weigh morally the claims of the different states of his day in a period known as warring states
- establish a universal ethical standard for all the future statesmen of his country
- embodies practical codes of ethics as they were illustrated by the events of history
18
Q
Chu hsi
A
-enunciated the great principle of propriety known as names and parts
-he thought it should be made the governing principle of politics
-page 53
-social order and utility
-sun philosophy
-his school helped to define sharply the division of labor or the sphere of influence between buddhism and confucianism in japan under the regime of the tokygawa shogunate
-
19
Q
empty your heart
A
- gets rid of philosophy
- only then you can master the art
- techniques will help you but you will not be a master
20
Q
chinese way
A
- patriotic but grounded
- practical
- not sentimental
- given up to positivism more than to idealism
- never forget that they cannot live even for a day separated from mother earth
- this is why they like Chu Hsi’s philosophy
21
Q
Japan
A
- the failure of chu hsi in china
- confucian learning assisted by zen monks of the 5 mountains prospered
- they knew where to incorporate sung philosophy and where to use zen
- radiated from kyoto to the rest of the country
- nationalism
22
Q
shintosim
A
- did not assert itself as doctrinally independent of either confucianism or buddhism
- shintoism has no philosophy of its own to stand on
- awakened to its own consciousness and existence only when it comes in contact with one of the others
23
Q
zen x samurai
A
- activates the fighting spirit
- related to life of samurai
- sustains samurai morally (never look back) and philosophically (treats life and death indifferently)
- discipline- simple, direct, self-reliant, self-denying
- fighter is single minded with 1 object in view
- iron will
- warrior and military classes
24
Q
zen
A
- no special doctrine or philosophy
- no set of concepts or intellectual formulas
- release one from the bondage of birth and death
- extremely flexible in adapting itself to any philosophy and moral doctrine
25
Hojo Tokimune
- crushed the mongolian invasions
- devoted himself to zen
- erected temples
- he says to cut off the source of cowardice which is yourself
- zen helped him be a great statesmen and warrior
- he wanted peace
- great buddhist spirit
- firmly established zen in kamakura and in hyoto and among the warrior classes
26
japanese genius
- when to priesthood or soldiery
| - spiritual co-operation of these 2 professions -> contribute to the creation of bushido
27
bushido
- way of the warrior
- determined will to die
- honor comes first
- the act of being an unflinching guardian-god of the dignity of the samurai
- this dignity consists in loyalty, filial piety, and benevolence
- to fulfill these duties you must train oneself in moral asceticism (not only practical aspect but in its philosophical preparation) and always be ready to face death (sacrifice oneself unhesitatingly when needed)
- mental and spiritual training
- when your determination to die at any moment is thoroughly establish -> master of bushido
- life will be faultless and duties will be fully discharged
28
hagakure
- hidden under the leaves
- document in connection with japanese military operations in china
- one of the virtues of the samurai not to display himself (dont blow his horn) but to keep himself away from public eye and be doing good for his fellow beings
- consists of various notes, anecdotes, and moral saying
- emphasizes a samurais readiness to give away his life
29
Yagyu Tajima no kami munenori
- great swordsman and teacher in the art to the shogun of the time
- teacher was able to tell that someone was a master swordsman by looking
- the pupil says he isnt and never studied it
- student then reveals that he mastered to no longer be afraid of death
- master goes on to say that this is the secret to swordsmanship is to be released from death -> tells the student he is already a master
30
death
- most vital and essential idea to samurai
- able to discharge your duties to their fullest extent -> to master, filial to your parents, and naturally can avoid all kinds of disasters
- personal dignity is enhanced
- everyday is your last and dedicate it to the fulfillment of your obligations
- keep the idea of death all the time before your mind in order to avoid indulging in all kinds of dissipation and regretful days of disgrace
- do not hesitate to choose death
- way of bushido
31
no-mind-ness
- all thing are accomplished when one attains a mind of no-mind-ness
- state of mind which is no more troubled with the questions of death or of immortality
32
sword
-instrument of self-discipline
33
bokuden and rough looking swordsman
- rough samurai bragged about his skill
- bokuden says his art is different than the rough swordsman: consists not in defeating others but in not being defeated
- they arrange a fight: bokuden without sword and swordsman with sword
- bokuden tricks him and rows away with the man on island
34
bokuden and 3 children
-he placed a little pillow over the curtain at the entrance to his room so that it would fall on their head with slight touch upon entering
-child 1: noticed the pillow and took it down and placed it back after entering
-child 2: touched the curtain to raise it and caught the pillow coming down and put it back after entering
-child 3: came in abruptly and hit his neck and he cut the pillow in 2 before it come down to the floor
-bokuden says child 1 is qualified swordsman, child 2 must train assiduously, child 3 is a disgrace to the family
-
35
kenshin and shingen
- great generals
- kenshin learned that shingen was suffering from lack of salt for his people and kenshin supplied his enemy from his own province
- kenshin rode into camp of shingen to decide the fate of the day of war -> puts sword at shingens head
- shingen was not disturbed (Zen)
- kenshin took up zen way of fighting like shingen
- buddhists
36
furyu
- disinterested enjoyment of nature (even in the midst of warlike activities)
- those without this feeling of furyu are classed among the most uncultured in japan
- same mental attitude that has created the custom among cultured japanese of writing a verse in either japanese or chinses at the moment of death
37
parting with life verse
- detach themselves from excitements
- transcend and view it objectively when they die
- leaving a farewell song
- custom among cultured japanese of writing a verse in either japanese or chinses at the moment of death
- buddha asked his disciples to give them his farewell exhortation
38
saving a life
- if someone saves your life you become a monk and serve buddha and look after the spiritual welfare
- or suicide
- once the mind is made up dont look back
39
isagi-yoku
- leaving no regrets
- with clear conscience
- like a brave man
- with no reluctance
- in full possession of mind
40
ideas
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