Siska, The term 'kensho' is Japanese term and is used in Japanese Zen Buddism. It was used by teachers from both the Renzai and Soto schools in the zendo where I received instruction.
I was told that 'kensho' means 'first glimpse'. That might not be the actual Japanese:English translations, but that's what I was told. It refers to an event in which a student's (or anyone else) initially gains awareness of Buddha Nature. It implies an awareness that is of short duration and fades quickly over time. This term can be compared with 'satori' which I was told means 'great enlightenment'. 'Satori' is an event that marks an awareness of Buddha Nature is very deep and long-lasting. This is my understanding of these two terms. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], siska_cen@... wrote: > > Hi Ed, > > I still cannot figure out clearly what kensho actually is, but from the > descriptions, it looks like kensho is very similar to nyana (insight) > experience as in Mahasi tradition in Theravada. > > Daniel, looking forward to your opinion (or correction). > > Siska > -----Original Message----- > From: "ED" <seacrofter001@...> > Sender: [email protected] > Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 13:45:08 > To: <[email protected]> > Reply-To: [email protected] > Subject: [Zen] Zen, zen and Theravada Buddhism > > > > > Hello All, > > Definitions: Zen = Zen Buddhism; zen = Zen minus the Buddhism > > The Noble Eightfold Path is sometimes divided into three basic > categories as follows: > > > I. Wisdom (Sanskrit: prajna, Pali: panna) > > 1. Right understanding > > 2. Right intention > > II. Ethical conduct (Sanskrit and Pali: sila) > > 3. Right speech > > 4. Right action > > 5. Right livelihood > > III. Concentration (Sanskrit and Pali: samadhi) > > 6. Right effort > > 7. Right mindfulness > > 8. Right concentration > > > o Theravada Buddhism embraces all three categories of the Noble > Eightfold Path. > > o Zen accepts all three categories, but tends to de-emphasize I and > II, in my obsevation/knowledge/belief. > > o zen accepts category III only, or possibly only steps 7. and 8. of > category III. > > ------- > > Zenists (and zenists) seek to achieve, or, without seeking, achieve in > kensho-satori, glimpses of: a sense of no-self or no I/me/mine; a sense > of an absolute nondual reality; a sense of nothing arising or perishing; > a sense of freedom from all bonds; and a sense of seeing directly and > deeply into the nature of things, without discriminating or discursive > thinking. > > The experience of the ineffable mind-space decribed above has been > labeled 'realizing Buddha Nature". > > I say 'glimpses of a sense of'' because we have to take the practitioner > at his/her word, or the Zen Teacher at his/her word for this > accomplishment or non-accomplishment of a student of Zen experiencing > the above state. > > And, it doesn't really matter because, no tangible benefits are promised > to ensue from these experiences. Do non-experiencers of kensho-satori > observe any tangible, positive transformation in Zenists who have > experienced kensho-satori? We do not know. > > ------ > > > > Of the dozens and dozens of zen/Zen centers in the US, perhaps only one > advocates 'zen'. Possibly for now we ought to only focus on comparing > Theravada Buddhism with *Zen*, and leave out zen. > > > > Daniel, kindly tell us if through Theravada Buddhist practices, > experiences of mind-states similar to the ones in kensho-satori tend to > arise. > > Thanks, ED > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
