ž What is Zen?

• ”Meditation”
• “Mental State”
• Sect/School of Buddhism

ž What isn’t Zen?

ž The American Encounter
• Post WWII

ž Historically and philosophically complex

ž Skeletal Sketch
→Princely upbringing
→Dissatisfaction
→Leaving home
→Practice and austerities
→Awakening
ž What was his experience/realization?
• Key terms/points:
– Suffering
– Craving/desire/clinging
– Samsara – cyclic existence
– Karma – “action,” cycle of cause and effect
– Dependent origination
– Cause/effect
– No cause, no effect
– Nirvana – extinguishment, liberation from suffering
ž P. 36
ž P. 14