Rinzai Zen vs Soto Zen meditation practice: what's the difference?

Daizan discusses the difference between the Rinzai & Soto Zen lineages and their means of practice.

Zenways promotes and encourages activities and practices that enhance human wellbeing, balance and awakening (satori or kensho - the enlightenment of Zen) in the many different situations we find ourselves in. Over many years of strict training, in Japan and the west, Julian Daizan Skinner received dharma transmission and permission to teach in both the Rinzai and Soto lineages of Zen. He now teaches at the Yugagyo Dojo in London, UK. May these recordings help you and those around you to find and realise the truth.

Have any questions you would like answered? Please leave them in the comments below.

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[benrusher]

I sit with the Mizumi Roshi lineage of Zen with transmissions in both Rinzai and Soto. I was recently asked by a teacher whether I wanted to practice Koan or shikantaza. i sat with it for a few days on sesshin and then talked again in interview and it seemed shikantaza was the practice for now. I can definitely feel that both the process of awakening and the truth of original enlightenment are present in the way it's expressed in this sangha.

[Sakura-zurz]

❤Your channel is literally my comfort place. You make me so happy.

[demicecconi]

Very integrative realization of wich way to go, would be awesome if you can use a microphone so its better for us spanish speakers understand correctly your words.

[Shibbyify]

Very wise man.
Some practitioners get very far with very esoteric and procedural practices, Hermetic Magicks for example. Some get very far with straight up non-dual realization with few if any practices: Vedanta or Soto Zen. I've seen practitioners and teachers be very self righteous about which approach is more correct across the board. The principle is find YOUR practice that you feel in your bones works for you and PRACTICE! All authentic practice is good practice.

[MartinJutras]

I think it's fair to say that in soto, zazen is seen as enlightenment whereas in rinzai, zazen is a mean to reach enlightenment.

[likeabonio]

Thankyou Daizan. This is helpful. In my life and practice I"m constantly having to renegotiate my intentions- ie not having them at all in some aspect of my life, then once intentions are taken up, holding them too forcefully- suffering and noticing the need to soften. The relationship we have with our intentions- I'd love to hear more on this area.

[kyotosal]

Thank you for this great video. I learned a

[McLKeith]

From a neuroscience perspective, having a goal and a step by step practice is a left hemisphere (rational, thinking) activity. However, openings kensho are right hemisphere (holistic) activities. So using the left hemisphere to get to right hemisphere living is a paradox. Dogen said “Practice and enlightenment are one” and “It is not a step by step process.” This is counter intuitive to the way almost everyone experiences life. And that is probably why it is so hard to “get there” from “here”.

[willieluncheonette]

Rinzai " When I eat I only eat, and when I sleep I only sleep"
Somebody said " But nothing special in that, everybody is doing it"
Rinzai " If everybody is doing it, everybody is a Buddha, everybody is enlightened then".

[alisonarmstrong]

Alan Watts discussed both in his talks.

[AnhTuPhucDerrickHoangCanada]

if I am not involved how can what I say alter the present huh yes

[likeabonio]

Also I agree with Teike, below. In the Bible there was a time of 'Hongaku' /Original Enlightenment. It was before Adam & Eve ate from the Tree in the Garden of Eden. It interests me that the Tree is described in Genesis ch. 2 as the 'Tree of the knowledge of good and evil'. I read this as being Adam and Eve having no knowledge of good and evil before eating of the tree. Theirs was a non-dual consciousness, where there was no right and no wrong, no good no bad. I didn't have a perspective on this phrase 'Tree of the knowledge of good and evil' before doing zen practice. But zen is this non-separation. It makes happy when zen practice helps me understand aspects of the bible I didn't understand, in the days I was a regular church going bible reader.

[McLKeith]

Good talk. Thanks. I resonate mostly with Dogen and Bankei. I also like the breathing methods of two Rinzai teachers Katsuki Sekida Roshi and Shodo Harada Roshi. Sekida Rsohi called it bamboo breathing and Shodo Harada Roshi called it susokkan breathing.

Your two Practical Zen books are quite helpful too.

[DjinnGang]

I been readin about Rinsai and I keep runnin into tha word Fuke, and when I look it up, its guys with baskets on their heads who play tha what exactly is Fuke zen??

[kozmicblues]

This way or that way? Have a good heart and be the best person you can be...always.

[nyclee]

Soto is not dead in china it’s called caodong

[robertdillon]

Zazen is Zazen, Shikantaza! No difference between Soto or Rinzai! Many schools are integrated now In America there are no pure schools.

[AnhTuPhucDerrickHoangCanada]

there's no difference if you know it, yinv yang and iching, and balance checkbook after lol

[cosmicman]

...all the seekers...practising practising for the big event.THIS!!!HEAR!!! Is the..IT..the time to ..play..play the dream..BE...Aum Tat Sat...🌹🌈😂

[sophicfire]

My temple has gone woke. It is a sinking boat now. It no longer carries the moonlight of the Dharma. Deluded monks guiding this boat grasp at its oars as if they were demons who would grant them powers. Each lay hold of the filthy end of a defiled stick
And call it the 3 Jewels. This temple was once a great beacon of the Dharma in the West. It was foundational in bringing Soto Zen to America. What do I do? Now if you want to be a monk there you must undergo struggle sessions in which you are subjected to the teachings of Robin Di Angelo. They are mandatory. What can anyone do?