Buddhism

Buddhism originated in India with Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th Century B.C. Although his father was the ruler of the kingdom of the Shakyas, Siddhartha renounced his life of luxury and left his father's kingdom in search of a solution to the existential suffering that he experienced himself and observed in those around him. He studied with many religious teachers and submitted himself to rigorous ascetic practices but still could not find the way to be free. He renounced all traditional religions and after years of meditation was able to pass beyond the world of intellectual distinctions and opposites to reach a level of unsurpassed integration, which is called Enlightenment. After that time, he was known as Buddha, the Awakened One.

Dharma

Dharma refers to the absolute truth or reality (as opposed to our ideas or beliefs about truth or reality) or to the teachings of those who have awakened to this. Buddhism is not a system of religious dogmas. Rather, it presents a way by which all can awaken to their own Buddha-nature. Buddha Shakyamuni's teaching states that the outstanding characteristic of the human situation is frustration, which arises because of our difficulty in accepting the basic fact of life that everything around us is impermanent and transitory. Our wish to divide the perceived world into fixed, individual, and separate things does not fit with the fluid and indefinable nature of reality. In manifesting enlightenment, one is freed from these notions.

Zen

The teaching of the Buddha quickly spread from India over much of Asia. By the beginning of the Christian Era, it had developed into at least eighteen schools. The Zen School was brought to China (where it is called Ch'an) from India in the 6th Century C.E. and developed into five main sub-schools. By the 13th Century, the first Soto Zen School, one of the main five, was established in Japan by Zen Master Dogen. Zen is characterized by a central focus on the practice of seated meditation (zazen), and the direct transmission of Dharma from teacher to disciple. Zen practice in itself manifests the unity and harmony of all existence and is not limited to sitting meditation but extends to all areas of daily life.

Zen Practice

Zen practice begins with zazen (sitting meditation) but it does not end there. Walking meditation (kinhin), chanting, bowing, work, and various art forms - such as calligraphy, painting, dance, music, flower arranging, etc. - are all part of Zen practice.

In Soto Zen, we also stress Ethical Conduct, and use the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts as ethical guidelines. It is our sincere intention to continually realign our lives in accord with these precepts. They are:

The Three Refuges
We take refuge in Buddha
We take refuge in Dharma
We take refuge in Sangha

The Three Pure Precepts
To do no harm
To do good
To live to benefit all beings

The Ten Prohibitory Precepts
1) A follower of the Way does not kill but rather cultivates and encourages life.
2) A follower of the Way does not take what is not given but rather cultivates and encourages generosity.
3) A follower of the Way does not misuse sexuality but rather cultivates and encourages open, honest and acceptable relationships.
4) A follower of the Way does not lie but rather cultivates and encourages truthful communication.
5) A follower of the Way does not intoxicate self or others but rather cultivates and encourages clarity.
6) A follower of the Way does not slander but rather cultivates and encourages respectful speech.
7) A follower of the Way neither extols self nor demeans others but rather cultivates awareness of the interdependent nature of self.
8) A follower of the Way does not attach to anything, even the teaching, but rather cultivates mutual support and shares the dharma with all beings.
9) A follower of the Way does not harbor ill will but rather cultivates loving-kindness, understanding, and forgiveness.
10) A follower of the Way does not turn away from the Three Refuges but rather cultivates and encourages taking refuge in them.