Sasana,+Joeseph

=__Zen Buddhism__=

Zen Beliefs and Practices
The word "Zen"(Japanese), or "Ch'an"(Chinese) originate from the Sanskrit word, //Dhyana,// which means meditation. Zen believes that all human are already Buddha, everything they have to do is discover themselves. Zen teaches that enlightenment is achieved through the profound realization that one is already an enlightened being, the Buddha. Which means that every human have Buddha-nature, and potential to become an enlightened one. It more focuses on controlling the body and finding Buddha in oneself, which is usually a harsh and disciplined process.

The Zen Circle
The picture above, the Zen Circle, best represents the ideas in the school of Zen Buddhism. Zen Circle is drawn in a quick single stroke without any thinking. It has a beginning point and an end, which each represents life and death. The blank inside the circle emphasizes nothingness and the magic of life and death, which also refers to Taoism.

History of Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism originates in India, but it was formalized in China. The introduction of "Zen" in China was done by Bodhidharma, an Indian monk, in 520 CE. As it was introduced, and developed in China, it was influenced a lot by Taoism.

**Zen in Japan**
Zen Buddhism was introduced in Japan during early 7th century. However, when it became significantly popular was in 12th century. Zen played an important role in Japan since then. In 16th century, Zen priests were one of the major power in political area.

__Works Cited__ http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/sects/zen.htm/ http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/zen/hd_zen.htm/
 * [] **