Several Zen buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. Below are given a number of important Zen buddhist terms, short definitions, and the languages in which they appear. In this list, an attempt has been made to organize terms by their original form and give translations and synonyms in other languages along with the definition.
Languages and traditions dealt with here:
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| Ango
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| baikako
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| chiden
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| den'nan
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| Dhyana, see jhana
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| doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen
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| dokusan A private interview between a Zen student and the master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his or her practice and to demonstrate understanding
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| Definition
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Etymology
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| Fuke Sect in Zen,
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| fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han
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Etymology
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| gassho A position used for greeting, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards in prayer position; used in various Buddhist traditions, but also used in numerous cultures throughout Asia. It expresses greeting, request, thankfulness, reverence and prayer. Also considered a mudra or inkei of Japanese Shingon. See also: Namaste
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- Sanskrit: anjali
- Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí)
- Vi: hiệp chưởng
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| gokeshichishu
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| gongan, see koan
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| gozan
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| han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day
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| hokushu
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| hossenshiki
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| ino, lit. "bringer of joy to the assembly", In Zen, one of the leaders of a sesshin; in Zen temples, the temple official in charge of maintaining the zendo, or meditation hall
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Etymology
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| jhana Meditative contemplation; more often associated with śamatha practices than vipaśyana. See also: shamata, samadhi, samapatti
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- from √dhyā: to think of, to contemplate, meditate on
- Pāli: jhāna
- Sanskrit: dhyāna
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- Thai: ฌาน chaan
- 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
- Cn: Chán or Chánnà
- Jp: Zen or Zenna
- Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na
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| jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant
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| jizoku Women in Japanese Zen Temple
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| kensho In Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience
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- Cn: jiànxìng
- Vi: kiến tính
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| kessei
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| kinhin Zen walking meditation
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| koan A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition
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- Cn: gōng-àn
- Ko: gong'an
- Vi: công án
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| kouka
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| kuri
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| kyosaku or keisaku In Zen, a flattened stick used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori
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| Definition
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Etymology
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| makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen
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| mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student
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| motsugosaso
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| nanshu
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| Obaku Zen sect
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| oryoki A set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony
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| Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji
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- Cn: Línjì-zōng
- Vi: Lâm Tế tông
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| rokuchiji
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| Rohatsu A day traditionally honored as the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. While deep in meditation under a bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment upon seeing the morning star just at dawn; celebrated on the 8th day either of December or of the 12th month of the lunar calendar
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| roshi, lit. "Master", An honorific given to Zen teachers that mastered koan.
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- Cn: lǎo shī (lit., old master)
- Vi: lão sư
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Etymology
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| samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training.[1]
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| sanzen A formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan
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| satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment
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| seichu In the Zen Buddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen
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| sensei Teacher; Zen teacher
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| sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days
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| shichidogaran
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| shiho
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| Shika
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| shikantaza Soto Zen. "Only concentrated on doing sitting" is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism
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| shike In Zen, Abbot of
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| shiryoji Menter's Temple
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| shoso
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| shuso
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| soan
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| sodo
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| Soto Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen
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- Cn: Cáodòng-zōng
- Vi: Tào Ðộng tông
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Etymology
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| tangaryō A period of waiting for admission into a Zen monastery at the gate, lasting anywhere from one day to several weeks—depending on the quality of one's sitting. Refers to the room traveling monks stay in when visiting, or await admittance into the sōdō.
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| tanto In Zen, one of the main leaders of a sesshin. In a Zen temple, the Tanto is the officer in charge of practice standards, i.e. teaching monks and lay practitioners how to sit, walk, bow, and chant in formal situations
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| tashutsu
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| tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment
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- Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha
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- 佛性, 仏性
- Also 覚性
- Cn: juéxìng
- Jp: kakushō
- Vi: giác tính
- Also 如来藏, 如来蔵
- Cn: rúláizàng
- Jp: nyuoraizō
- Vi: như lai tạng
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| teisho A presentation by a Zen master during a sesshin. Rather than an explanation or exposition in the traditional sense, it is intended as a demonstration of Zen realisation
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| tenzo In Zen, the head cook for a sesshin. In Zen temples, the officer in charge of the kitchen
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| tokuso
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| tosu Toilet in Zen temple
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Etymology
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| unsui
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Etymology
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| Definition
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Etymology
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| zafu
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| zazen Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism
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- Cn: zuòchán
- Vi: toạ thiền
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| Zen School A Japanese branch of Mahayana that emphasizes meditation in the pursuing of enlightenment
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- Cn: Chánzōng
- Vi: Thiền tông
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| zendo In Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo)
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- Cn: chántáng
- Vi: thiền đường
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| zenji Zen Master
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| zuise
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