Understanding Zen (Ch'an) Buddhism

[@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!

[@buutich1]

The "T" is pronounced like a soft "D". That is why westerners started spelling it with a "D".

[@buutich1]

Your talks are wonderful and helpful for lay buddhists.

[@mykaelmcmahan116]

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

[@AlanPeto]

Thank you, Mykael!

[@powpow9560]

Thank you, Alan

[@stevenwilliams5531]

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. 🙏

[@sonamtshering194]

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).

[@AlanPeto]

Thanks for adding some more information! Bodhidharma is always that figure we want to know more about. I also heard another theory he might have came from possibly where Iran is now. If I find that again, I’ll post here.

[@sonamtshering194]

@@AlanPeto Some think Bodhidharma was real, some don't. I believe he did historically exist, the problem is that his biography got mixed with myths and legends

[@AlanPeto]

Yeah, we will never likely have the full historical context. All we can do is be inspired and learn from him!

[@rannybunny4090]

Wonderful.

[@chilldragon4752]

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.

[@AlanPeto]

Thanks! 🙏. Yeah, I realized that after I uploaded 😂

[@cindyhuynh1282]

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

[@spacecaptain1970]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@buutich1]

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

[@AlanPeto]

Thank you! Added to the pinned comment. Heard the pronunciation that way from a monastic, which made me use it in the video.

[@adammobile7149]

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 😅

[@AlanPeto]

Thanks Adam! Times sure have changed for the better when it comes to learning :)

[@andregonzalez1496]

Thank you so much 🙏, you are awesome.

[@AlanPeto]

Thank you, Andre! 🙏

[@michaelmacleod6517]

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.

[@AlanPeto]

Let me know if you go! It can feel apprehensive at first. Maybe try emailing the temple if they have a website and see if a lay-volunteer can welcome you.

[@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!

[@AlanPeto]

Thanks! Yes, Zen is absolutely part of Mahayana and many Westerners are often surprised at things such as chanting, recitation, Bodhisattva path, etc., are all part of it as well. This can sometimes be due to a version of Zen that was meant to appeal to Westerners who rejected such things. That being said, you can find temples/groups that practice it as found in Asia.

[@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

[@AlanPeto]

Correct. The Threefold Training.

[@nettinetti8465]

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.

[@ShaolinChan5988]

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

[@AlanPeto]

Yes! Most Westerners have only heard of "Zen", though. Zen came later on when Ch'an teachings were introduced to Japan. This came after we had Thien in Vietnam and Seon in Korea. Japanese Zen comes from the same family, but has a Japanese style to it.

[@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.

[@AlanPeto]

Thank you for your feedback. As you mentioned, reading from monastics is a great way to truly understand "Zen". While there are quite a few well known monastics who write on this, of course the best way is by attending services at a temple under the guidance of a sangha that practices and teaches authentically. There are also temples that have 'dual practice' "Zen" and Pure Land, which is quite common outside of Japan (where it is separated).

[@amonynous9041]

please, don't say Tayoism

[@AlanPeto]

Thanks! I have a pinned comment with the pronunciations. Unfortunately, I can't edit the audio of the video already uploaded. I originally was not going to say it that way in the video but heard a different pronunciation (which turned out to be incorrect) which made me change it at the last minute.

[@amonynous9041]

@@AlanPeto it's ok I found it incredibly funny, hopefully it doesn't spread. Great video btw.

[@freeworld88888]

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.