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Basic Key Terms of Soto Zen

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Foreword
Denkōroku
A great many people are now practicing zazen in the Japanese Basic Key Terms of
Soto Zen Buddhist tradition outside Japan. But, because the Soto Zen Teaching

tradition is so new in other lands, their practice may not always Leaflet and Booklet
firmly based on a good understanding of the teaching. Before we Short Zen Stories
begin practice, we need some clarity about what we are doing and Zen Talks
why we are doing it that way. It is important to begin the practice Comics
with an understanding of the basic principles and underlying Soto Zen Journal
teaching behind what we will be doing. We need accurate
The Buddhist
background knowledge and a good understanding of ideas about Service Series
the nature of zazen so that we can practice properly and skillfully. Glossary
We should not start blindly. Otherwise our practice would likely go Sermons
astray and get lost.

So, here we will be offering Basic Key Terms of Soto Zen Teaching
as a help for those who want to obtain this kind of background
knowledge and ideas. We have selected twenty-four of the most
basic key terms which we hope will show us unique aspects of the
Soto Zen teaching.

We sincerely hope that this offering will help our fellow

practitioners all over the world root their practice deeply in the
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p p py
ground of right understanding.
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只管打坐 - Shikantaza

(Just Sitting)

In the Sotoshu Constitution (Sotoshu Shuken), Soto Zen

Buddhist doctrine (Shushi) is set down as “…abiding by the
True Dharma singularly transmitted by the Buddha-
ancestors, the Sotoshu doctrine is to realize shikantaza (just
sitting) and sokushinzebutsu (Mind itself is Buddha).”

自受用三昧 - Jijuyu Zanmai

(Self-receiving-and-using Samadhi)

In 1231, four years after returning from China and moving to

Anyoin temple in Fukakusa, Yamashiro, Dogen Zenji wrote
Bendowa in response to requests from his followers. Ever
since his return to Japan, he had been hoping to spread the
true Dharma and to save all beings.

身心脱落 - Shinjin Datsuraku

(Shedding Body-Mind)

Shinjin datsuraku is the term that Dogen Zenji (1200-1253)

used to describe the state he experienced after intensive
Zen practice under the guidance of his Chinese master
Nyojo (1163-1228) at Mt.Tendo in China. Its literal meaning
is “sloughing off of body-mind”.

即心是佛 - Sokushin Zebutsu

(Th Mi d It lf i B ddh )
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(The Mind Itself is Buddha)

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Sokushin zebutsu (the mind itself is Buddha), in addition to
What is Soto
shikantaza, is one ofActivities
Sotoshu?
Practice
the most important phrases inLibrary
Soto Zen Videos
Zen
Buddhism. Realizing (joto in Japanese) sokushin zebutsu Temples
together with shikantaza, defines Sotoshu doctrine. They are
its ultimate teaching.

袈裟功徳 - Kesa Kudoku

(Virtue of the Kashaya)

In the Zen school, there is a tradition of transmitting the

kashaya. Kashaya is the Sanskrit word for kesa (or okesa) in
Japanese. The kashaya is the robe worn by the Buddha and
his followers.

現成公案 - Genjo Koan

(Complete manifestation of established truth)

Genjo koan is the title of the first fascicle of the 75-fascicle

version of Shobogenzo, which is thought to have been
compiled by Dogen Zenji himself. This term is also frequently
found in Dogen’s other writings.

修証一等 - Shusho Itto

(Oneness and equality of practice and realization)

Shusho Itto (修証一等) succinctly embodies Dogen Zenji’s

viewpoint about practice and realization. Shu (修) means
“practice” and sho (証) means “realization as the fruition of
practice.”

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非思量 - Hishiryo

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(non-thinking)
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Hishiryo (非思量) literally means “non-thinking.” Shiryo (思量)
means “thinking” and hi (非) is aprefix of negation and
opposition. So hishiryo amounts to “unthank” or “not the
matter of thinking.”

道場大衆一如 - Dojo Daishu Ichinyo

(In activity and stillness at one with the community)

It is said that Dogen Zenji entered Daibutsuji on July 18,

1244. Daibutsuji was built by his great supporter Yoshishige
Hatano. Before Daibutsuji’’s name was changed to Eiheiji on
June 15, 1246, Dogen Zenji wrote Bendoho (the model for
engaging the way).

一佛両祖 - Ichibutsu Ryoso

(One Buddha Two Founders)

The Sotoshu Constitution (Sotoshu Shuken) declares in

Article 4: Objects of Reverence, “The Sotoshu shall primarily
honor Shakyamuni Buddha, and shall honor Koso Joyo
Daishi (Dogen Zenji) and Taiso Josai Daishi (Keizan Zenji)
as its Two Founders.”

行持道環 - Gyoji Dokan

(The Circle of the Way in Continuous Practice)

Gyoji Dokan is a term that reflects the Soto Zen Buddhist

view on practice and realization. This phrase derives from
the beginning of Shobogenzo Gyoji, Part 1:
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梅花 - Baika
Activities

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(Plum Blossoms)
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The plum tree is a flowering tree brought to Japan from
China by Japanese diplomatic delegations sent to China
during the Tang dynasty. It has graceful flowers blooming in
early spring and a noble fragrance.

佛性 - Bussho

(Buddha-nature)

“Buddha-nature” means the original nature as a buddha that

is intrinsic to sentient beings. At the same time it also means
the potential to become a buddha – a sense of being an
embryo of a buddha (tathagatagarbha).

有時 - Uji

(Existence-Time)

Generally the term uji refers to a time when someone

temporarily possesses something that circulates among
people, such as money.

道得 - Dotoku

(Able to Speak)

Dotoku literally means “able to speak.” As I will discuss later,

this word carries a very important meaning within Dogen
Zenji’s teachings. The Chinese character do has many
meanings ①way, path, road, ②bodhi, awakening, ③say,
talk, speak, ④lead, govern. Dou in “dotoku,” means “say,” or
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“speak.”

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平常心是道Activities Practice
- Byojoshin Zedo
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Sotoshu? Zen
(Ordinary Mind is the Way)
Temples

“Ordinary mind is the Way” are the words of Baso Doitsu

(709-788). With Baso, we can see one of the final goals of
Chinese Zen, which was founded by Bodhidharma. Baso’s
thought was also expressed in “Mind itself is buddha,” the
idea that the mind of the self, as it is, is buddha.

正法眼蔵涅槃妙心 - Shobogenzo Nehanmyoshin

(The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, the

Marvelous Mind of Nirvana)

In Buddhism, Shobogenzo Nehanmyoshin indicates the

essence of the genuine teaching that has been transmitted
generation after generation. The entire phrase is comprised
of eight Chinese characters

禅戒一如 - Zenkai Ichinyo

(The Oneness of Zen and the Precepts)

In the present Sotoshu, we find the expression “the oneness

of Zen and the Precepts” in Article Five of the Sotoshu
Constitution. This article is titled “Tenets.” This is the only
place in the Constitution where the principle of the Precepts
is listed as an essential element of Sotoshu doctrine.

発菩提心 - Hotsu Bodaishin

(Arousing the Aspiration for Enlightenment)

Th h “h t b d i hi ”
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The phrase “hotsu bodaishin” means arousing the aspiration
for enlightenment. Usually, this refers to a practitioner’s
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bringing forth the mind of a bodhisattva, that is, the
What is Soto
aspiration Activities
to realize buddhahood. Practice Library Videos
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面授 - Menju

(Face-to-face Transmission)

The term face-to-face transmission refers to master and

disciple meeting face-to-face at which time the secrets of the
Dharma are transmitted.

黙照禅、看話禅 - Mokusho Zen and Kanna Zen

(Silent Illumination Zen and Koan Zen)

Silent Illumination Zen and Watching Koan Zen are the two
currents of Zen that developed in twelfth century Song
China.

夢中説夢 - Muchu setsumu

(Explaining a Dream within a Dream)

“Explaining a dream within a dream” is a phrase that

expresses a situation where, within a dream, someone is
telling another person “Today, I saw this dream.” This is to
speak of something without any substance; something which
is an illusion and far from reality.

深信因果 - Jinshin Inga

(Deep Faith in Cause and Effect)

“The principle of causality is obvious and impersonal” is a

familiar phrase that was adopted into the “General
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familiar phrase that was adopted into the General

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Introduction” to The Meaning of Practice and Verification
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(Shushogi). Activities Practice Library Videos
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覚触 - Kakusoku

(Enlightenment, Awakening, Realization)

The word “kakusoku” is one that until recently has rarely

been discussed either in terms of Soto Zen doctrine or as
part of Soto Zen studies. Very few Soto Zen priests
understand what is meant by the expression “Zazen is
kakusoku.”

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