![]() ![]() He abandoned his worldly role and stepped outside of the structure of the Hindu caste system. ![]() Seeking the way of liberation, he followed rishi, the path of the forest. In doing this he was acting entirely according to Vedic tradition. He became aware that reality was not to be discovered through an involvement with all things separate but only through a dissolution of separation. His teaching went straight to the heart of self-realization. The Buddha’s concern was not with the workings of society and the nature of an individual’s destiny but with universality. It has often been argued that Buddhism is a reinterpretation of the teachings of the Veda that it was arrived at by the Buddha after a blinding insight into the central truths of the Upanishads. In turn, by considering the Buddha, we must also take into account his own philosophical background and cultural context. This may seem like an obvious thing to mention, but without directly relating Zen to its primary source, the teachings of the Buddha, we would end up by merely discussing its peculiarities and not its fundamental inspiration. What must never be forgotten is that Zen is first and foremost a branch of Buddhism. Their words convey the spirit of Zen, that indefinable essence that defies words. The wisdom of the great figures of Zen – Chinese masters, Japanese monks and inspirational poets – is contained here in this collection of daily reflections. Those who have chosen to read this book, particularly newcomers to Zen, will find that their understanding of the daily sayings and tales that make up this compilation will be greatly enhanced if they take time to acquaint themselves with the subject first.Ībove all, however, the message of Zen is contained within the sayings themselves. It then goes on to examine the main teachings and practices of Zen. This introduction begins by tracing the history of Buddhism and the growth of Mahayana Buddhism, of which Zen is a branch. ![]()
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