Zen Buddhist Meditation in IAH 211B
This IAH class entitled "Zen Culture in Japan and America" tries to answer two questions: what is Zen? and to what extent has it been integrated into American culture? The renowned Zen master, D.T. Suzuki, insisted that Zen is a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, that there is no global category to capture the essence of Zen, and that Zen is only understandable by the West. Thus Professor Haeja Chung introduces Zen as presented by Suzuki and other Japanese Zen masters and then examines Zen aspects in the arts and letters in America. Insights into Zen mind and discipline encourage students to employ a contemplative and non-dualistic approach to the arts and humanities and to their daily lives as well.
To respond students' questions and desire to learn meditation properly, Professor Chung invited Ms. Donna Minock to introduce students to this practice. Ms. Minock is a seminary student at the Zen Temple in Ann Arbor since 1996 and has taught English at Schoolcraft College in Livonia for 30 years. Ms. Minock tells us more about this experiential activity:
I introduce students to meditation practices by doing some stretches and sitting for 15 minutes. Then I try to get each student to talk about their practice and we talk about Buddha and Buddhism teachings. Chants follow before we sit again for another 15 minutes. We then talk about the five fingers of Zen and the four statements about Buddhism and read sutras together. A Q & A session follows.
