REL101Note6-3.htm

REL 101 Class notes, Week 6, Lectures 1-2

450-550 CE: Bodhidharma, founder of Chan (Zen) Buddhism

Zen Buddhism: Bodhidharma

Chan/Zen Buddhism: Historical Background

Chinese Philosophical Schools

Legend of Bodhidharma

Zen as the Meditation School

Bodhidharma's Zen Buddhist Thought

Encouter with Emperor Wu - "Nothing holy whatsoever, there is only vast emptiness"

Transmitting the Dharma Seal - Four disciples and "attaining the marrow"

Zen Buddhism and Daoism - Comparisons

Daoism (Zhuangzi) Zen Buddhism (Bodhidharma)
Shared:
closeness to nature, individual intuition, simplicity and spontaneity,
iconoclasm (anti-establishment), decentralization
sparing with words, often cryptic

Differences:

Zen Buddhism emphasizes:

Master-Disciple Lineage
Community formation (sangha) and commitment to Bodhisattva Ideal (Mahayana Buddhism)
Cosmic sangha, Great Compassion for all sentient beings

Daoism emphasizes:

Communion/blending with Nature more than with people
Not much in the way of master/disciple relationships
Cook Ding - Blending with the Dao, NOT Compassion