Understanding Zen (Ch'an) Buddhism

"Zen" Buddhism has caught the imagination of Westerners ever since it spread around the world after World War II. In-fact, this may be the form of Buddhism you first encountered. But what is it exactly, and is our "Western" understanding of Zen correct? Learn more in my video!

[AlanPeto]

Update: Pronunciation of Taoism, Daoism, and Dhyana. My apologies for the pronunciation of these words which I realized was incorrect after the video was already uploaded. Taoism: TA-OU (as in 'mouth') -ism (source: Wikipedia). Daoism: D-AHO-O-ism (as explained by Chill Dragon in the comments below).

Dhyana, a Sanskrit word, is pronounced very much like the Pali word, Jnana (as explained by Mohamjip in the comments below)

Thank you!

[mykaelmcmahan]

Beginning my road in Buddhism and I really enjoy watching your videos! Keep them coming I’ll be here to watch them!

[sonamtshering]

Nice overview on Chan Buddhism. I got to add something though: Most believe Bodhidharma is from South India particularly Tamilakam (Geographical region inhabited by the ancient Tamil people, covering the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent).

[stevenwilliams]

Thank you so much for this. Not many people cover it and I believe there is confusion that can be cleared up by this video. 🙏

[cindyhuynh]

Alan Peto i do appriciate yours vocab. i learned good from you and thanks.

[chilldragon]

Great video Alan. This definitely clears up some confusion. Just so you know though Taoism is pronounced "Daoism" spoken like D-AH-O-ism. Have a great day my friend.

[michaelmacleod]

There's a Ch'an monastery right across the street from me and I've always wanted to study. They do offer beginning classes but I've been hesitant to go. I've studied Japanese and Korean Zen on and off for a few years and from your primer Im interested in learning more about Ch'an as a whole.

[idtyu]

Chinese Buddhism in general, including chan believe in the 3 studies, vinaya (precepts, moral conducts) will bring you jnana(concentration, mindfulness), and jnana bring you prajna (wisdom). You have to practice all 3, and thru gradual study and long time, then you can reach enlightenment. A lot of westerner believe that just meditation can do that, that's not very feasible

[andregonzalez]

Thank you so much 🙏, you are awesome.

[PavaniGanga]

Interesting history. News to me how the Chinese kept various practice strands under one roof, while the Japanese would separate these strands for specialized practice. I really appreciate the re-contextualization of Zen as an aspect of Mahayana. I don't hear that so much from the Western Zen community in USA. I spent a year at the San Francisco Zen Center when Shunryu Suzuki-roshi was still among us. Just now, hearing you speak, I was strongly reminded of his spirit and how he would warn about the "gaining" tendency (my interpretation: impatient, overly aggressive). It was something I couldn't understand till many years later. (Because it 's counter to the predominant "American" tendency?) Thanks!

[adammobile]

Thanks for good video, I was strongly interested in Buddhism 15 years ago, it was really hard to find this kind of complex informations that times. Now I can just turn on my tablet and watch it, amaizing. Maybe we are already in Pure Land 😅

[buutich]

Dhyana, a Sanskrit word, is pronounced very much like the Pali word, Jnana.

[freeworld]

chinese buddhism is vast and detail and further development. chinese are more of big circle buddhism. Thai, myanmar is small circle buddhism. Chan has a lot of Daois, I ching and chinese folks influence. Pure land is one of the biggest and popular, Tien Tai mountains etc.

[ShaolinChan]

Zen was from Chan 禅，But it's NOT Chan 禅🙏🙏🙏
Thank you

[NullStaticVoid]

I have a few critiques but these mostly seem covered. I would say that the western misperceptions of Zen are likely due to a few books written by mid 20th century Europeans with insufficient grasp to speak with authority. Especially “Zen and the Art of Archery”.
These are typical Orientalist writings that seek to divine the secret esoteric truths in various Eastern traditions and dismiss most of the rest of the religion as mythology and superstition. Its better to read from monastics or academics. Both will have a better foundation.

[nettinetti]

Ch'an is different from Zen. What the Chinese mind have developed was different from what the Japanese mind have innovated.
Ch'an is closer to the Buddhism that Old China have received from Indian mind. Zen has become farther to what Indian and Chinese Buddhism transmitted.
Japanese Zen innovators like Dogen emphasized Zazen as the way of living Buddha's teachings. But Ch'an have always taught that Zen/Ch'an practice involves not just sitting meditation, but also standing and walking meditation.
Ch'an emphasizes enlightenment with cultivation, Zen emphasizes just non-duality. Cha'n emphasizes sutra study. Zen disregards sutra study.