Zen Buddhism

In certain countries, it is believed that the crest on the beret is designed / shaped in a way to ward off evil spirits. The crest is sometimes blessed by holy men for the same effect.

I like this question. Or, actually, my answer! They must be important, right? For the most part, sure, they are. But there are texts that some people would rather ignore, while others emphasize them. For example, in Thailand, a group called Santi Asoke doesn't pay much attention to the Abbidhama, which is the third of the books of the Tripitaka, or The Three Baskets. It's the third basket. It gives lots of very deep, sort of mystical philosophy, you might say. Not something that many people are going to understand very easily. This group in Thailand prefers to emphasize the more practical teachings; the teachings that seem most relevant to everyday life. But many many Thai Buddhists who practice sitting meditation give the Abbidhamma lots of significance. In Zen literature, you can fairly easily find references to monks of long ago who, before their enlightenment, cherished this or that sutra. But after their enlightenment, they would toss all of their books out saying books are useless. Troy. "Don't mistaken my finger pointing to the moon as the moon." or "The reflection of the moon in a cup of water is not the moon." by;Siddharta Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha. The Scriptures are only guides. The scriptures are nothing if you don't follow it. The scriptures are like road maps. Once you get to your destination, the map is useless. Unless of course you want to slide back to where you were before. If you will observe objectively, the ones who are defending their scriptures vigorously are those that came out short where the teachings are concerned. To parapharase the words of the great Zen master Tsung-mi: "If we just read Buddhist scripture without also trying to directly experience what he did, our realization will be no more than a matter of baseless faith. On the other had, if we take our experiences to be authoritative without comparing them with what the Buddha taught in the scriptures, then how can we be sure our experiences agree with those of the Buddha?" In sum, there is both the need to read Buddhist scriptures and to try to experince what the Buddha did long ago. the teachings, not the teacher.

It didn't; the buddha was a Hindu who started Buddhism

hinduism

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This is a partial answer which someone else can add to.

Mandalas are only found in Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhism, not in other branches of Mahayana Buddhism nor in Theravada.

The center of a Tibetan Buddhist mandala is empty, to show the emptiness (in essence) of all things.

"Eastern Philosophy and Meditation" is a website that offers a guide to learning about Zen Philosophy and Zazen meditation. It also teaches about enlightenment.

it means that you have a mole on your penis lol but asain cultures have said that it means your gonna be very horny all the time who knows?

There are several different ways to do Zazen. For example, one can do Zazen on a chair or on a cushion. Also, there are also many different postures such as the Full-Lotus and Half-Lotus.

They think that it can make people escape from suffering and bring them peace.

I don't think it's accurate to describe Zen having its own deities. At least as practiced in my center, we don't deify the Buddha but we do show respect for him and his teachings. What's more, it's not unusual for someone to practice a theistic religion (say, Christianity or Judaism) and also practice Zen. There need not be a conflict.

inner peace

Enlightenment is a concept mostly associated with Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, enlightenment is called nirvana. Nirvana is believed to be a state of peace and unity with the cosmos.

Hinduism also uses the concept of nirvana, called moksha, considering it a representation of freedom from desire and other worldly passions. Enlightenment is also part of the conclusion to the Hindu cycle of reincarnation.

Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia. By some it is celebrated on the 8th February, but by most on the 15th February.

To my knowledge, there are no specific dietary requirements for this day.

Passages from the Nirvana Sutra describing the Buddha's last days of life are often read on Parinirvana Day. Other observances include meditation and visits to Buddhist temples and monasteries. Also, the day is a time to think about one's own future death and on the deaths of loved ones. This thought process reflects the Buddhist teachings on impermanence.

Japanese Zen Buddhism is centered and calm. The practice of Zen Buddhism is not interested in an external God but instead focuses on the nurturing of God within themselves.

Any decent-sized bookstore will have some books related to Zen Buddhism. Perhaps the most influential books about Zen Buddhism written in English during the last half century are Philip Kapleau's THE THREE PILLARS OF ZEN and Shunryu Suzuki's ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND.

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Family obligations and traditions.

1. There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day.

2. Buddhism is strictly not a religion in the context of being a faith and worship owing allegiance to a supernatural being.

3. No saviour concept in Buddhism. A Buddha is not a saviour who saves others by his personal salvation. Although a Buddhist seeks refuge in the Buddha as his incomparable guide who indicates the path of purity, he makes no servile surrender. A Buddhist does not think that he can gain purity merely by seeking refuge in the Buddha or by mere faith in Him. It is not within the power of a Buddha to wash away the impurities of others

4. A Buddha is not an incarnation of a god/God (as claimed by some Hindu followers). The relationship between a Buddha and his disciples and followers is that of a teacher and student.

5. The liberation of self is the responsibility of one's own self. Buddhism does not call for an unquestionable blind faith by all Buddhist followers. It places heavy emphasis on self-reliance, self discipline and individual striving.

6. Taking refuge in The Triple Gems i.e. the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha; does not mean self-surrender or total reliance on an external force or third party for help or salvation.

7. Dharma (the teachings in Buddhism) exists regardless whether there is a Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha (as the historical Buddha) discovered and shared the teachings/ universal truths with all sentient beings. He is neither the creator of such teachings nor the prophet of an almighty God to transmit such teachings to others.

8. Especially emphasized in Mahayana Buddhism, all sentient beings have Buddha Nature/ Essence. One can become a Buddha (a supreme enlightened being) in due course if one practises diligently and attains purity of mind (ie absolutely no delusions or afflictions).

9. In Buddhism, the ultimate objective of followers/practitioners is enlightenment and/or liberation from Samsara; rather than to go to a Heaven (or a deva realm in the context of Buddhist cosmology).

10. Karma and Karma Force are cornerstones in Buddhist doctrines. They are expounded very thoroughly in Buddhism. Karma refers to an important metaphysical concept concerned with action and its consequences. This law of karma explains the problem of sufferings, the mystery of the so-called fate and predestination of some religions, and above all the apparent inequality of mankind.

11. Rebirth is another key doctrine in Buddhism and it goes hand in hand with karma. There is a subtle difference between rebirth and reincarnation as expounded in Hinduism. Buddhism rejects the theory of a transmigrating permanent soul, whether created by a god or emanating from a divine essence.

12. Maitri or Metta in Pali (Loving Kindness) and Karuna (Compassion) to all living beings including animals. Buddhism strictly forbids animal sacrifice for whatever reason. Vegetarianism is recommended but not compulsory.

13. The importance of Non-attachment. Buddhism goes beyond doing good and being good. One must not be attached to good deeds or the idea of doing good; otherwise it is just another form of craving.

14. In Buddhism, there is consideration for all sentient beings (versus human beings, as in other religions). Buddhists acknowledge/accept the existence of animals and beings in other realms in Samsara.

15. No holy war concept in Buddhism. Killing is breaking a key moral precept in Buddhism. One is strictly forbidden to kill another person in the name of religion, a religious leader or whatsoever religious pretext or worldly excuse.

16. Suffering is another cornerstone in Buddhism. It is the first of the Four Noble Truths. Sufferings are very well analysed and explained in Buddhism.

17. The idea of sin or original sin has no place in Buddhism. Also, sin should not be equated to suffering.

18. Buddhist teachings expound no beginning and no end to one's existence or life. There is virtually no recognition of a first cause - e.g. how does human existence first come about?

19. The Dharma provides a very detailed explanation of the doctrine of anatman {anatta in Pali} or soullessness , i.e. there is no soul entity (whether in one life of many lives).

20. The Buddha is omniscient but he is not omnipotent. He is capable of innumerable feats but there are three things he cannot do. Also, a Buddha does not claim to be a creator of lives or the Universe.

21. Prajna [Panna in Pali] or Transcendent Wisdom occupies a paramount position in Buddhist teachings. Sakyamuni Buddha expounded Prajna concepts for some 20 years of his ministry. One is taught to balance compassion with prajna i.e.emotion (faith) with rationale (right understanding / truth / logic).

22. The tradition and practice of meditation in Buddhism are relatively important and strong. While all religions teach some forms or variations of stabilising/single-pointedness meditation, only Buddhism emphazises Vipassana (Insight) meditation as a powerful tool to assist one in seeking liberation/enlightenment.

23. The doctrine of Sunyata or Emptiness is unique to Buddhism and its many aspects are well expounded in advanced Buddhist teachings. Briefly, this doctrine asserts the transcendental nature of Ultimate Reality. It declares the phenomenal world to be void of all limitations of particularization and that all concepts of dualism are abolished.

24. Conditioned Arising [Paticcasamuppada in Pali] or Dependent Origination is another key doctrine in Buddhism. This doctrine explains that all psychological and physical phenomena constituting individual existence are interdependent and mutually condition each other; this at the same time describes what entangles sentient beings in samsara.

25. The concept of Hell(s) in Buddhism is very different from that of other religions. It is not a place for eternal damnation as viewed by 'almighty creator' religions. In Buddhism, it is just one of the six realms in Samsara [i.e. the worst of three undesirable realms]. Also, there are virtually unlimited number of hells in the Buddhist cosmology as there are infinite number of Buddha worlds.

26. The Buddhist cosmology (or universe) is distinctly different from that of other religions which usually recognise only this solar system (Earth) as the centre of the Universe and the only planet with living beings. The Buddhist viewpoint of a Buddha world (also known as Three Thousand-Fold World System) is that of one billion solar systems. Besides, the Mahayana Buddhist doctrines expound that there are other contemporary Buddha worlds like Amitabha's Pure Land and Bhaisajyaguru's world system.

27. Samsara is a fundamental concept in Buddhism and it is simply the 'perpetual cycles of existence' or endless rounds of rebirth among the six realms of existence. This cyclical rebirth pattern will only end when a sentient being attains Nirvana, i.e. virtual exhaustion of karma, habitual traces, defilements and delusions. All other religions preach one heaven, one earth and one hell, but this perspective is very limited compared with Buddhist samsara where heaven is just one of the six realms of existence and it has 28 levels/planes.

[ Compiled by Tan Swee Eng]

I am a bit Hindu myself, but I was born and raised up here, in the US. I do not speak Hindi, or any of India's other languages, so Im not sure what Tranquil is in Hindi. Try searching it up on the internet and there may be a couple of results.

Bushido adopted the Zen concept of the instantaneous appreciation of an event and the equally instantaneous application of a response (a vey positive action/reaction cycle for sword fighting). Other Zen applications like the lack of remorse over past events and the lack of analysis of good or evil in following a command were also useful.

Yes. However, the emphasis in Zen Buddhism is on meditation. The idea is that following the Noble Eightfold Path will come naturally as a practitioner masters meditation.

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There is sitting meditation.

There is walking meditation.

There is the Zen garden, and other Zen practice pursuits (archery, tea cerimony, calligraphy, painting, chanting...)

Eventually, we have reverence for all of existence. On our way:

There is sitting meditation.

There is walking meditation.

There is the Zen garden...

The Zen garden is used to represent the simplicity and the harmony of life. Zen priests are also used by Zen priests to improve the concentration while by raking the garden.

Eastern teaching are built on the nullification of desires, or at least on their complete suppression, whereas Kabbalah states that the Creator can be sensed precisely by expressing the desire for Him (and certainly not by nullifying it), only by inverting the aim of its use. Perhaps they are very similar on the outside. The sensations of the Eastern teaching are built on the suppression of one's desire to enjoy. A person who suppresses his ego feels in that passive state something that seems spiritual. That is why there appears to be some resemblance in the description of the approach of Kabbalah, but in truth, there is an enormous difference in the expression of the ego and its treatment. To a Kabbalist, who is in the spiritual world, the roots and differences between the various beliefs and faiths are very clear. But it's a path which depends on efforts and study. www.kabbalah.info For a more rounded approach to this answer, view the discussion.