30 Questions on Zen
Buddhism and Practicing Zazen
These questions were compiled by Gustav Ericson based on questions he received
from a group of people in Sweden who practice Zazen. The answers are by
Buddhist priest Gudo Wafu Nishijima.
1. What is gained in
Zazen?
What we gain in Zazen is
the balance of the autonomic
nervous system. In the chapter entitled Bendowa in Master Dogen’s book Shobogenzo we can find the words " JijuyoZanmai," which Master Dogen
indicates as the criteria of Zazen. The first word "Jijuyo” separates into two parts, one is “Jiju” and the other is “Jiyo.”
Therefore “Jijuyo” is a combination between “Jiju” and “Jiyo.” “Jiju” means to receive ourselves and “Jiyo” means to utilize ourselves. Therefore we can interpret
that “Jiju” suggests the function of the
parasympathetic nervous system, and “Jiyo” suggests
the function of the sympathetic nervous system. And the second word “Zanmai” means the balanced state of the autonomic nervous system. Therefore we
can understand that the words “ JijuyoZanmai” mean just the
balanced state of the autonomic nervous system, which modern psychology and
physiology teaches us about today.
2. What is Master Dogen's "flowers in space"?
"Flowers in space" is the
title of the 43rd chapter in Shobogenzo. In this chapter Master Dogen explains
that even though Buddhism insists that both intellectual consideration and
sensuous perception are not real entities themselves, he also insists that both
intellectual consideration as thesis and concrete sensuous perception as
antithesis are useful and necessary, and by utilizing those two fundamental
criteria we can understand reality on the basis of dialectic thinking utilizing
the philosophy of action as the synthesis.
3. What is the meaning of Dharma
Transmission?
In Shobogenzo we can find
the 16th chapter, which is entitled "The Certificate of Succession." In this
chapter Master Dogen describes the ceremony of transmitting Dharma. Therefore
"Transmission" means the transmission of Dharma, and “Dharma” means the Buddhist
truth, the Universe, a real act at the present moment, and Reality itself.
Therefore we can interpret that “Dharma Transmission” is giving the certificate
of realizing Dharma from a Buddhist Master to his matured
disciple.
4. What is a Zen
Master?
I guess that the words "Zen
Master" may be the translation of the Japanese words "Zen Ji." Zen is the same in the two languages, and “Ji” (or “Shi”) means a teacher. Therefore a Zen Master means
a teacher of Zazen. But I think that we should be careful in thinking about the
word “Zen”. Because in some kinds of Buddhism we sometimes find the strange fact
that the word “Zen” is used to represent a special meaning of something
mystical.
Those kinds of Buddhism use
the word “Zen” to represent some kind of mystical but powerful entity. But I
wonder whether such a kind of mystical entity really exists in Buddhism or not.
And Master Dogen hates such a kind of mysticism so strongly, and so in
Shobogenzo he writes his opinion as follows (Book 2, P. 62, L
12.):
“People who do not learn
this truth in practice speak randomly and mistakenly. They randomly call the
right-Dharma-eye treasury and the fine mind of nirvana that have been
authentically transmitted by the Buddhist patriarchs “the Zen Sect”; they call
the ancestral Master “the Zen patriarch”; they call practitioners “Zen students”
or “students of dhyana”; and some of them call
themselves “the Zen schools.” These are all twigs and leaves rooted in a
distorted view. Those who randomly call themselves by the name “Zen Sect,” which
has never existed in
Therefore we should be
careful to use the word "Zen."
5. What is
intuition?
Intuition is a mental
ability which has a function to decide a conclusion transcending mental
consideration and sensuous perception. When the sympathetic nervous system is
stronger, the intellectual consideration works well, and when the
parasympathetic nervous system is stronger, the sensuous perception works well,
but when the autonomic nervous system is balanced the ability of intuition works
well directly.
6. What is our true original
nature?
Generally speaking, it is
usually impossible for us to know our true original nature, because it is just a
simple fact at the present moment, and so it is usually impossible for us to
grasp it at the present moment.
7. What is
Buddha-nature?
In chapter 22 of Shobogenzo
entitled “Bussho”, or “The Buddha-nature,” Master
Dogen describes Buddha-nature as follows (Book 2, P. 6, L. 1.):
“If you want to know this
Buddha-nature, remember, causes and circumstances as real time are just
it.”
Therefore Buddha-nature
does never exist in the past and it does never exist in future, but it exists
just only at the present moment. So we can think that Buddha-nature is Reality
just at the present moment.
8. What is Heaven and
Hell?
Heaven is a human
supposition and Hell is also a human supposition. But when our autonomic nervous
system is balanced, it is just Heaven, and when our autonomic nervous system is
not balanced, it is just Hell.
9. What is life and
death?
When our heart has stopped
and if it doesn't move again, the state is called death, and when our heart is
moving still without stopping, that state is called life.
10. What is the meaning of the
Buddhist idea of emptiness?
The true meaning of
emptiness in Buddhism has been misunderstood for so many years as nothingness,
or void. But if we have understood that Buddhism is a realistic philosophy, it
is impossible for us to understand emptiness like that. In Buddhism emptiness is
just “as it is.” A cup is a cup. A cup is never more than cup, or a cup is never
less than cup.
11. What is better Zazen and worse
Zazen?
There is no better Zazen,
or worse Zazen. What is different from Zazen is wrong, and what is just Zazen is
Zazen.
12. What is the
eternal?
Eternity is just a human idea. But the fact at the present moment is eternal,
because it must be recorded as a fact at the present moment, and it can
never be erased for ever.
13. What is the meaning of Master
Dogen's " BodaisattvaShishobo”? Could you please comment on the four principles
of a Bodaisattva's social
relations?
Chapter 45 of the
Shobogenzo is entitled "BODAISATTA-SHISHOBO”, or “Four Elements of a
Bodhisattva's Social Relations." These
four elements are as follows:
“First is free giving. Second is kind speech. Third is helpful conduct. Fourth is cooperation.”
1) Free giving: When our
autonomic nervous system is balanced, it is impossible for our stinginess to
occur, and if something is not necessary for us to keep, there is no reason for
us to refuse giving it to others.
2) Kind speech: When our
autonomic nervous system is balanced, it is very natural for us to be polite to
others, and if others receive our politeness, the others might be
happy.
3) Helpful conduct: When
our autonomic nervous system is balanced, it will be happy for us to help
others, and if others have received our kind help, they will feel very
happy.
4) Cooperation: When our
autonomic nervous system is balanced, we are always cooperative in a common job,
and what we want to accomplish will be accomplished much
faster.
14. What does it mean that life is
only one breath?
Our life exists always just at the present moment, and the length of the present moment is always the shortest time, and actually thinking the present moment is much more shorter than our one breath. Therefore we can say that our life is always much shorter than the length of our breath.
15. When should we break the
precepts?
We should never break the
precepts at all, but sometimes we can not avoid our mistake. But you shouldn’t
worry about the fact that you have broken the Buddhist precepts. Because it is completely impossible for you to return to the past to
correct your mistake at all. Therefore the best you can do is just to
throw away your mistakes in the past, and to do the best just at the present
moment.
16. Where will you be in 100 years
from now?
When I die in a few years,
not so long from now, everything will become nothing including me, and I will
take a rest forever.
17. How can we understand
ourselves?
I think that it is
impossible for us to understand ourselves.
18. What can we understand with
words and what can we not understand with words?
We can understand
everything, but at the same time, our understandings can never touch
Reality.
19. Is it possible to teach
Zen?
It is possible for us to
teach Zazen, but it is necessary for everyone to practice Zazen by himself or
herself.
20. Does Zazen have a goal?
Zazen has a goal. The goal of Zazen is to practice Zazen itself.
21. Where do we come from, why are we here, and where are we going?
I think that such kinds of questions might be beyond all human beings' ability.
22. How can we let go of fame and profit?
When our autonomic nervous
system has become balanced, it seems to be so boring for us to pursue fame and
profit and we can find a much more valuable object to pursue, that is the
Truth.
23. Could you please tell me more
about the city you were in
It was called Songo in Japanese at that time, and it was in the north-west
district of Manchuria near Amur. It was just a
military city for the Japanese army. But at that time fortunately there was no
fighting in that district, and so we were just guarding the
district.
24. Could you please tell me more about how it was to return to Japan after the war?
In June 1945, I was ordered to move to Himeji City in Japan for the purpose of guarding Japan itself, and so I travelled along the eastern coast of Korea in rather dangerous situations, and I met the end of war in Himeji City in Japan.
25. How can Zazen help us be happy?
It is just the happiest
condition to practice Zazen itself.
26. How can we practice Zazen in our
daily chores?
Since moving to my new
residence, where I am living now, I have begun cooking by myself, and so I have
found the fact clearly that even my cooking in my daily life has also the
characteristics of action. Therefore my cooking can be also a kind of Buddhist
efforts, of course, even though I am practicing Zazen two times a day
everyday.
27. What is
truth?
Reality is the Truth.
Therefore the Universe is also the Truth.
28. What are some of your favourite quotes from the Shobogenzo, and
why?
For example, "It is just
moment by moment of red mind, upon which we rely solely." (Shobogenzo Book 1, P.
211. L. 1.) The words “red mind” suggest sincere mind,
and this is a description of Master Dogen's daily
life.
29. How can a Zen Master help a
student?
A Buddhist Master can help his student by teaching Buddhist philosophy, by guiding the student’s daily life, by practicing Zazen together, and by transmitting Buddhist Dharma.
30. In your
life, how have you noticed that Zazen is actually practically
working?
I have become a little
better than before.
With best
wishes
Gudo Wafu
Nishijima
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