By: Courtney Dragovich 11/21/10

 Is practiced in Japan  Zen mainly focuses with the study of the mind both its absolute nature and its evolved nature.  They focus more on enlightment rather than meditation.  Focuses on clearing the mind  Focus on buddha mind and not seated meditation In zen you have to do two parts of meditation the first being Shamatha which calms the body and makes you more peaceful and the other is Vipashyana which recollects the mind.

 Is practiced in China  They focus more on meditation  They usually do the seated form of meditation by reciting Om Mani Padme Hum.  Om symbolizes the body, speech, and mind  Mani means jewel which symbolizes the factor method altruistic mind on becoming enlightend.  Padme meaning lotus or wisdom  The hum indicates indivisablity

 Even thought they do a different form of meditation they can still try and focus on the mind and clear out all thoughts and reach a certain area of enlightment.

 The school of zen begins with a central Asian buddhist monk named Bodhidarma who arrived in china from C.E and taught Northern china for 50 yrs.  Other schools of zen was the Dhyana school or school of mediation which took its objective of the mystical communion of the mind which means that the mind takes it to the unique essence of things, takes it in and through this method master of things and of itself.  The chinese dyhanist gave himself out as a person controlling the forces of nature.  The japanese also took on this method by following his own path of samsara or life on earth.

 Tibetans came in contact with Buddhism when they occupied the oasis cities of central Asia.  In the 8 th century A.D. the first of many monks arrived where the first monastery was established in 787 A.D.  Buddhism soon went into decline from political issues.  In the 10 th century monks from India and Tibetans tried to reintroduce this religion.

 Even thought they are two different religions that focus on different aspects and rules they are still a form of buddhism.

 Dodgen was the founder of zen  Once this path is followed of reaching enlightment then this person that reaches it can be successful with their life.  A chinese monk by the name of Che-yi founded this new sect around 575.  The Dhyana school took the essential nature of things, the tathata as a kind of buddhist similarity of the hindu brahman which led to the opinion that samsara is related to nirvana.

 Tibetans have a spiritual leader called the Dalai Lama  Tibet was made an easy target for communist china which invaded the country in  Between 1959 and 1977 almost all traces of Buddhism were destroyed and thousands of people were forced to leave tibet and there were 3,000-5,000 people that died and 1,000s of people were arrested by the chinese.  Refugee monks tried to re-establish their country by setting up a government and rebuilt monasteries where masters pass on their teachings to young masters.  They built schools were they provide a education for more than 10,000 children supported by sponsors from all over the world.

 Even thought these two religions have different paths that people follow, but they have a positive aspect in believing in their religions and for other people to follow.

 The Dalai Lama’s view of being exiled was that he appealed to the chinese authority on April 20 th.  He wanted to investigate how this crisis had started.  Didn’t want any violence  He would of resigned if the violence got out of control.  He wanted Tibet to stay under Chinese rule to have better benefits of having own religion and traditions and wanted a reasonable autonomy.

 Zen book René Grousset. In the footsteps of the Buddha. New York. Grossman publishers.1929 Youtube video His holiness the Dalai Lama. Interview with Peter Mansbridge. 20 april 2008 news tv. Zen website A view on buddhism. FAQ. January 15, Tibetan Buddhism website Tibetan buddhism.BDEA inc. and Buddhanet