Resources > Glossary

Glossary:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

  • Affirming Faith in Mind (Chi. Hsin Hsin Ming) - a classic Ch'an/Zen text attributed to the third Chinese ancestor Seng-Ts'an celebrating awareness that transcends dualities. It is chanted for noon service during sesshin at Great Vow.
  • Ango - Traditional seasonal periods of more intensified training, usually for a period of ninety days.

B

  • Benji - The assistant to the Shusso.
  • Bodhisattva - Literally "Awakened Being", a being that embodies an awakened energy, such as protection, compassion or wisdom. Also refers to practicioners of the Dharma who are motivated to continually deepen their wisdom and compassion so that they may help relieve the suffering of others.
  • Bodhisattva Precepts - 16 precepts for ethical living. For a specific list see our Jukai page.
  • Buddha - Personified enlightenment, and a historical figure that lived 2,500 years ago and set out a path of practice to Truth and liberation from suffering.
  • Buddha-Dharma - The teachings of the Buddha.

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C

  • Chokei - Kneeling posture with ones weight on ones knees.

D

  • Densho bell - The large hanging bell in the hallway outside the zendo.
  • Dharma - Teachings of Truth and liberation from suffering.
  • Doan - The person who plays the bells during service.
  • Dana - (Pronounced “Donna”) is a Pali term literally meaning generosity or giving freely.

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F

  • Five Precepts Ceremony - A ceremony in which one takes the five precepts (not to kill, not to lie, not to steal, not to misuse sexual energy, not to become intoxicated) and receives a wagessa. - Learn more.
  • Fusatsu Ceremony - A repentance and renewal of vows ceremony, offered regulary at Great Vow Zen Monastery and the Portland Dharma Center, and every New Year's Eve.

G

  • Gaitan - The short row of seats against the back wall of the zendo, where latecomers sit in order to maintain stillness in the zendo.
  • Gassho - Holding the hands palm-to-palm
  • Gatha - A short, chanted verse.

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H

  • Hakuin Zenji's Song of Zazen (Jap. Zazen Wasen) - the Song of Zazen begins,"From the beginning all beings are Buddha". Song of Zazen praises the practice of zazen as the most expedient means to experience this. Composed by Hakuin Zenji (1689-1769), who revitalized Japanese Rinzai Zen.
  • Hakama - A Japanese skirt-like garment worn by postulants and pre-postulants during zazen.
  • Hako - A wooden box used for burning loose incense.
  • Han - A wooden block located outside the zendo which is struck 10 minutes before zazen.
  • Hara - Located in the lower abdomen, two inches below the navel, this is considered the center of spiritual awareness.
  • Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra (Jap. Maka Hannya Haramita Shingyo) - The Heart Sutra is one of the primary sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. Particularly emphasized in the Zen school, it is a concise teaching of the truths expressed in the Prajnaparamita sutras on the lack of substanial essence of all phenomena (shunyata). There are approximately forty Mahayana sutras gathered together under the title Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom)
  • Haishiki - The brown mat in the center of the zendo used which the officiant bows on during service.

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  • Identity of Relative and Absolute (Jap. Sandokai)- This sutra celebrates the enlightened state of mind that appreciates ultimate and conventional truths as inseparable. It was written by the seventh Chinese ancestor in our lineage, Shih-T'ou Ch'ien who lived from 700 -790 (Jap. Sekito Kisen)
  • Inkin - The small bell held on a painted stick, and rung with a metal striker.
  • Ino - The person who says the names of the chants, and reads the dedications during service.

J

  • Jisha - The teacher's attendant, who offers incense to the officiant during service, and organizes the line to sanzen.
  • Jizo Bodhisattva - The guiding energy of Great Vow Zen Monastery, Jizo manifests the qualities of benevolence, unflagging optimism, and no fear. Jizo is also the protector of women, children and travelers.
  • Jizo Ceremony - A ceremony in honor of children who have died in any way (abortion, accident, etc.) held several times a year at Great Vow Zen Monastery.
  • Joriki - Energy resulting from zazen.
  • Juban - A white undershirt worn under samu-e or koromo.
  • Jukai - A ceremony in which one receives the 16 Bodhisattva precepts, takes refuge in the Three Treasures and formall becomes a Buddhist. Those taking Jukai receive a lineage chart, a rakusu (which they sew themselves) and a Buddhist name. - Learn more.

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K

  • Kensho - A direct experience of no-self, no other.
  • Kentan - Morning greeting rounds done by the shusso (also done by the teacher during sesshin).
  • Kesa - An outer robe worn by a Zen Buddhist priest. Priests who have received Transmission wear brown, gold, or other colored kesa, otherwise the kesa is black.
  • Kimono - A long undergarment, worn over the juban and under the koromo.
  • Kinhin - Walking meditation. At Great Vow Zen Monastery we do 5 minutes of slow kinhin, followed by 5 minutes of fast kinhin between every 50 minute block of zazen.
  • Koan - A short anecdote of a spiritual dialogue , often between a Zen Teacher and student, that have been collected, appreciated and meditated with for nearly a millenium as a skillful means to illuminate specific facets of the truth.
  • Koromo - The black, long-sleeved robes worn by Zen priests.

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M

  • Mantra - A short chant with particular energetic potencies.
  • Mokugyo - The round, solid wood drum used to set the pace and rhythm of a chant.
  • Mudra - Hand posture.

O

  • Oriyoki - Literally "just enough", a ceremonial style of eating using three bowls that are cleaned immediately after use. Breakfast and dinner are eaten oriyoki style at Great Vow Zen Monastery, and all meals are eaten oriyoki style during sesshin.

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P

  • Postulant - A Great Vow Zen Monastery resident who has officially asked to become ordained. During there time as a postulant they wear white squares on their rakusu to distinguish them.
  • Precepts - The ten guidelines for ethical living (not to kill, not to lie, not to steal, not to misuse sexual energy, not to become intoxicated, not to put oneself up by speaking ill of others, not to criticize others, not to be stingy, not to give vent to anger, and not to speak ill of the Three Treasures).
  • Priest - One who has taken ordination, and dedicated ones life to the Buddha-Dharma. For the first five years after ordination one is considered a Novice Priest.

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R

  • Rakusu - A small square miniature representation of the kesa. This "bib" is worn by anyone who has received Jukai.
  • Rinzai Zen - A school of Zen which emphasizes koan practice as an expedient means to realize the truths of the Buddha. Great Vow Zen Monastery is heavily influenced by this school.
  • Roshi - A title given to a Zen Teacher who has been teaching and leading a community for over 10 years.

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S

  • Samadhi - Concentrated awareness where subject and object interpenetrate.
  • Samu - Communal work practice.
  • Samu-e - A shirt which folds left over right in front.
  • Sangha - A Buddhist community.
  • Sanzen - Private interview with the teacher.
  • Satori - A unusually powerful enlightenment experience.
  • Seiza - Kneeling posture with ones weight on ones heels.
  • Sesshin - A long (six or more days) intensive meditation retreat.
  • Setsu - The small spatula used in oriyoki meals to clean the bowls.
  • Shashu - A hand posture in which the hands are held at the solar plexus, with the left hand making a fist around the thumb, and the right hand covering the left hand. Used during walking meditation and when standing in the zendo.
  • Shikantaza - Literally "just sitting". Sitting with non-discriminating, open awareness, thus actualizing the mind of Buddha.
  • Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani - an invocation to prevent disaster. Dharanis are short chants composed of syllables with symbolic content that through continuous repetition manifest cosmic energies.
  • Shosan - A dharma dialog between a Zen Teacher and many students, usually held at the end of Denkoe sesshin or Rohatsu sesshin.
  • Shusso -The priest in charge of maintaining a harmonious practice environment in the zendo.
  • Shusso-Hossen - Dharma dialogue in question and answer form with the shusso at the end of their term as shusso.
  • Soto Zen - A school of Zen which emphasizes the forms of practice such as zazen, chanting, working, etc. as expression and actualization of Dharma. Great Vow Zen Monastery is a member of this school.
  • Sutra - Recorded teachings of the Buddha and Ancestors, chanted daily.

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T

  • Tabi - White slippers worn by priests during special ceremonies.
  • Tatami - Straw mats used in the Founder's room and Sanzen room.
  • Teisho - A direct presentation of Dharma, energetic and verbal, offered daily during sesshin,
  • Tenzo - The Great Vow Zen Monastery resident in charge of the kitchen.
  • Three Treasures - The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
  • Tokudo - The ordination ceremony in which one becomes a Novice Priest.
  • Transmission - The act of a teacher recognizing a student's mature understanding of the truth and then empowering them to be a teacher of the Buddha-Dharma.

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W

  • Wagessa - A long, thin piece of fabric, symbolizing the kesa, worn by anyone who has taken the Five Precepts Ceremony.
  • Wiggle Bell - A single bell rung 25 minutes into a 50 minute period of meditation, signaling an opportunity for a change of posture.

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Y

  • Yaza - Late night sitting.

Z

  • Zabuton - The square floor cushion under the zafu.
  • Zafu - The round cushion one sits on during zazen.
  • Zagu - The bowing mat used by a priest when they do full prostrations.
  • Zazen - Seated meditation.
  • Zazenkai - Full day of intensive meditation practice.
  • Zendo - Meditation hall.

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©2006 Zen Community of Oregon
Updated: December 31, 2008
Site by Michelle Bagley