Zen and Zen Buddhism: An Overview

Abstract

The present chapter, Zen and Zen Buddhism, offers a brief history of Zen Buddhism for behavioral health professionals that may not have been exposed to the context with which Zen and mindfulness practices rose out of. More specifically, Shudo Ishii, Ph.D., an emeritus of Komazawa University, the oldest Soto Zen Buddhism University in Japan, presents the history of Zen Buddhism in China, and highlights its core perspective on enlightenment, practice, and everyday living (this chapter). Knowing the history of Zen Buddhism in China is relevant to behavioral health practitioners as the core perspectives systematized in China remain central in Zen Buddhism today where many acceptance- and mindfulness-based practices were originated. Ishii argues that there are three key theses that had shaped and adapted the practice of Zen Buddhism: These are self, Zen practice (zazen and koan), and enlightenment. The emergence of different schools of Chinese Zen is often attributable to overlapping, yet somewhat distinct perspectives on these three domains.