Paul Maloney, roshi explores Zen as a noun and also as also a verb. When engaging with Zen, it is important to distinguish between the two. To focus on Zen as a noun, an object of interest through reading or enquiry, can lead to the accumulation of an impressive body of knowledge about Zen. And this can be done without ever encountering the living actuality of personal engagement in the experience of Zen the verb.

The English language term “Zen” has its origin in the Pali word, Jhana “absorption.” In Sanskrit is pronounced Dhyana, in Chinese Chan-na, in Japanese Zen-na, and simply Zen in English. The word Zen is intimately connected to the origin of Buddhism.

After the Bodhisattva Siddhartha Gautama sat down and crossed his legs under the Bhodhi tree he entered a state of deep absorption, that lasted for several days. This absorption had many levels, each one of them revealing particular aspects of reality, and understanding, that are not available to everyday human consciousness. These various are termed the Jhanas.

Fundamentally, Zen is not an abstract concept, it points to a living experience, an embodied practice originating in the awakening of the Buddha. That is why the zen sect is termed “The Buddha Heart School” as its practice is that of the historical Buddha. Two examples of this are exemplified by Dōgen Zenji of the Sōtō school, and Hakuin Ekaku of the Rinzai school.

This talk was given by Paul Maloney, roshi at the November 2024 zazenkai at Annandale.