Dharma in Soto Zen?

[Guest]

In all that I have read, I have not seen anything about the Dharma as taught in other Buddhist traditions ( 4 noble truths and the eightfold path, the paramitas, causation, etc). So, I was wondering what the Dharma transmitted within Soto Zen consists of? Is it the Dharma mentioned above, knowledge of shikantaza, teachings of Dogen Zenji (shobogenzo, etc), or????
Thanks in advance!

Gassho
David

[Kokuu]

Hi David

The dharma in Sōtō Zen includes the four noble truths, eightfold path, the paramitas, pratitya-samudpada, karma and all of the usual teachings you would expect to find in Buddhism. The Mahayana tradition rests on early Buddhism/Theravada teachings but in Zen it is not always explicit.

In Mahayana teachings, the eightfold path is collected into three catgories - ethics, meditation and wisdom. You will find all of those in Sōtō Zen (our Ango and Jukai currently includes explicit study of the precepts) and the whole purpose of practice is to find a way out of suffering for oneself and all sentient beings.

Shikantaza is the sine qua non of the Sōtō way, and we tend to worry less about formulations and concepts than many other Buddhist traditions, but all of the teachings are still there, woven through every breath of our practice.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Jundo]

Hi David,

Yes, as Kokuu says, our way in Soto Zen is centered on Shikantaza and the teachings of Dogen Zenji. However, that includes and works from all the principle teachings of Buddhism such as the "Four Noble Truths," Eightfold Path, Paramitas, Causation, Non-Self, impermanence and all the rest. So, I am not sure of your question.

We do tend to encounter those through a Mahayana lens, and Zen perpsectives, but they are all front and center.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Jishin]

In all that I have read, I have not seen anything about the Dharma as taught in other Buddhist traditions ( 4 noble truths and the eightfold path, the paramitas, causation, etc). So, I was wondering what the Dharma transmitted within Soto Zen consists of? Is it the Dharma mentioned above, knowledge of shikantaza, teachings of Dogen Zenji (shobogenzo, etc), or????
Thanks in advance!

Gassho
David

Hi David,

The definition of Dharma has always been difficult for me.

Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

[BigDavid]

Thank you for your replies. Jundo Sensei, you and the others have answered my questions. Thank you again.

Gassho
David

[Jundo]

Hi David,

The definition of Dharma has always been difficult for me.

Gassho, Jishin, __/stlah\__

One reason is that it is a word, or really three different words, with separate but closely connected meaning.

First, a "dharma" is something like a "phenomenon" ... a thing, an event, a moment ... that happens in reality. An atom is a dharma, a table is a dharma, you are a dharma, a second of time is a dharma, angry emotions are a dharma.

Second, "dharma" is something like the way the universe works, reality, the forces of nature and all the other truths of reality. the system of the universe. What's "going on in the engine room" of reality, especially as seen from a Buddhist perspective.

Third, the "Dharma" (often capitalized) is the Buddha's teachings about that reality and how it works. I think David was referring to this last meaning of Dharma.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Daitetsu]

Hi Jundo,

First, a "dharma" is something like a "phenomenon" ... a thing, an event, a moment ... that happens in reality. An atom is a dharma, a table is a dharma, you are a dharma, a second of time is a dharma, angry emotions are a dharma.

Second, "dharma" is something like the way the universe works, reality, the forces of nature and all the other truths of reality. the system of the universe. What's "going on in the engine room" of reality, especially as seen from a Buddhist perspective.

Third, the "Dharma" (often capitalized) is the Buddha's teachings about that reality and how it works. I think David was referring to this last meaning of Dharma.

Just a quick linguistic question, because I have started to learn Japanese a while ago. Does every meaning of the term Dharma have its own Kanji in Japanese?
For example the second meaning you have mentioned is a bit like the Chinese concept of the Tao in Taoism.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[Jishin]

One reason is that it is a word, or really three different words, with separate but closely connected meaning.

First, a "dharma" is something like a "phenomenon" ... a thing, an event, a moment ... that happens in reality. An atom is a dharma, a table is a dharma, you are a dharma, a second of time is a dharma, angry emotions are a dharma.

Second, "dharma" is something like the way the universe works, reality, the forces of nature and all the other truths of reality. the system of the universe. What's "going on in the engine room" of reality, especially as seen from a Buddhist perspective.

Third, the "Dharma" (often capitalized) is the Buddha's teachings about that reality and how it works. I think David was referring to this last meaning of Dharma.

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you for the explanation. I tend to think in terms of the absolute and all the dharma/Dharma return to the One evading definition.

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[Jishin]

Hi David

The dharma in Sōtō Zen includes the four noble truths, eightfold path, the paramitas, pratitya-samudpada, karma and all of the usual teachings you would expect to find in Buddhism. The Mahayana tradition rests on early Buddhism/Theravada teachings but in Zen it is not always explicit.

In Mahayana teachings, the eightfold path is collected into three catgories - ethics, meditation and wisdom. You will find all of those in Sōtō Zen (our Ango and Jukai currently includes explicit study of the precepts) and the whole purpose of practice is to find a way out of suffering for oneself and all sentient beings.

Shikantaza is the sine qua non of the Sōtō way, and we tend to worry less about formulations and concepts than many other Buddhist traditions, but all of the teachings are still there, woven through every breath of our practice.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

Thank you for the explanation Kokuu.

On a separate note, I must say you looked better with a full head of hair. :-)

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[Kokuu]

On a separate note, I must say you looked better with a full head of hair. :-)

I asked for the full Jishin. Can't help it looks better on you than me!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Jishin]

Gassho, ST

[Jundo]

Hi Jundo,



Just a quick linguistic question, because I have started to learn Japanese a while ago. Does every meaning of the term Dharma have its own Kanji in Japanese?
For example the second meaning you have mentioned is a bit like the Chinese concept of the Tao in Taoism.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

The most common in Chinese-Japanese is 法 (hō) which is "Law." I believe it is applied to all three meanings, as here ...

https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/D/41

There may be other Kanji characters that are sometimes used in special cases, but that is most common.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Daitetsu]

Thanks a lot, Jundo!
Learning Japanese is full of challenges (but also fun).

Gassho,

Daitetsu

[Shinshi]

One reason is that it is a word, or really three different words, with separate but closely connected meaning.

First, a "dharma" is something like a "phenomenon" ... a thing, an event, a moment ... that happens in reality. An atom is a dharma, a table is a dharma, you are a dharma, a second of time is a dharma, angry emotions are a dharma.

Second, "dharma" is something like the way the universe works, reality, the forces of nature and all the other truths of reality. the system of the universe. What's "going on in the engine room" of reality, especially as seen from a Buddhist perspective.

Third, the "Dharma" (often capitalized) is the Buddha's teachings about that reality and how it works. I think David was referring to this last meaning of Dharma.

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you for this teaching Jundo.



Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[BigDavid]

And Sanbo means three treasure's, right? If so, would namu sanbo mean I take refuge in the three treasure's?

Stlah
Gassho
David Somers