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坐禪和讚

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: Zazen wasan

Senses:

  • A short poem composed of forty-four verses by Hakuin Ekaku 白隱慧鶴 (1686–1769). The poem, written in relatively simple language, is considered to hold the essence of Zen teaching. The major concepts the text expounds on are the oneness of living beings and Buddhas and the identity between nirvana and saṃsāra . The text is considered important in Japanese Rinzai tradition 臨濟宗 and is contained in all handbooks for sutra chanting used by the sect. Different Rinzai training temples recite various texts before teishō, usually one associated with the founder of their lineage. For example, the Myōshinji line monasteries usually read Kozen Daitoku kokushi yuikai, whereas the Kenchōji line monasteries read Rankei Doryuʼs Daikaku zenji zazenron. The original text with a translation into English can be found online. See Hakuin (1967, vol. 6, 283–284) for a more scholarly source.

    References:

    Hakuin. Goto, Mitsumura, ed. 1967. Hakuin oshō zenshū. Tokyo:  Ryūkon sha.

    Miura, Isshu, and Ruth Fuller Sasaki. 1965. The Zen Koan: Its History and Use in Rinzai Zen. New York:  Harcourt, Brace & World.

    [Erez Joskovich; source(s): ZGDJT]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 0383c

    Zen Dust (Sasaki) 251

    Bussho kaisetsu daijiten (Ono) ④10b

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    The rights to textual segments (nodes) of the DDB are owned by the author indicated in the brackets next to each segment. For rights regarding the compilation as a whole, please contact Charles Muller. Please do not reproduce without permission. And please do not copy into Wikipedia without proper citation!

    Entry created: 2023-10-07

    Updated: 2023-10-07