Rinzai Zen
A separate transmission outside the scriptures;
Not dependent on words and letters;
Directly pointing to the human mind,
Seeing one's nature, becoming buddha.
— Four lines describing the approach and method of Zen,
attributed to Bodhidharma
The essential point of Zen is awakening through direct seeing of one’s true nature. Open and undefiled, free from fabrication, grasping, and fear, beyond contrivance and dualistic thought, this awakening is the recognition of one’s “original face.”
Rinzai Zen is an extremely direct path of spiritual inquiry, cutting sharply at the root of delusion. Its methods may be called intense and demanding. But those who practice sincerely may realize profound wisdom within this very life. The authentic expression of such wisdom is compassion.
Rinzai Zen's many practices include sanzen, direct encounter with the teacher; foundational and advanced methods of zazen; koan practice; breath and energetic training; methods for revealing and returning to the mind’s natural clarity; chanting; and ritual practices.
Beyond these formal practices, every activity may become Zen training. At Korinji we carry the lineage of the great twentieth-century master Omori Sogen Roshi, who articulated the training path of Zen-Ken-Sho: the unity of Zen, martial arts or other physical culture, and fine arts. As he wrote:
At our Dojo we have calligraphy and swordsmanship practice in addition to zazen. I call this "using different vehicles for Zen training." Zen - the realization of one's essence, the discovery of a True Man without Rank - can be found in all aspects of life. There are many vehicles for Zen training; some are formal disciplines, for example, the tea ceremony and flower arranging, but any daily act - cooking, raising children, working with tools or a pen, walking, standing, sitting, lying - can be an instrument of spiritual forging. In my case, I selected the things I know best: Zen, swordsmanship, and calligraphy for my Dojo. Kendo is practicing Zen with a sword; calligraphy is writing Zen with a brush. If we practice earnestly, a true person without rank will someday grip the sword, and the self of no-self will flow from the brush.
Ours, then, is the path of encompassing all activities of life within seamless meditative absorption, expressing the wisdom of awakening in myriad ways. Through dedicated practice, one gains unshakable confidence that one’s own natural mind is precisely what we call “Buddha.” Training with devotion, revealing this wisdom in daily activity, freedom and liberation naturally unfold.
We offer many resources and events to help sincere practitioners begin and deepen Zen practice. Please explore these pages:
