The belief and practice of Zen

In Zen we believe that there is a Buddha -nature that is the essence of the existence of the Universe, and that it is in all things.
In Zen meditation, we strive to uncover that Buddha-nature which is within ourselves.


This is so far the best explanation I could find about Zen, what it is about in belief and practice.

Of course, one could deeply expand on this matter, but it is good to state what it is about without getting lost in complicated rethorics and philosophical explanations. I chose Zen because it is a religion one trains in, just like we train in Karate, Iaido, Tai Chi or other martial arts.

It is quoted from the book "MOKU RAI" or Silent Thunder - the second volume of Matsuoka Roshi's teaching Archives.

Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka Roshi was my instructor's Master. He was born in Japan in 1912 and moved to the US in 1939. He founded the Zen Buddhist temple of Chicago, where he was also instructor of Zazen for the Chicago Judo-Karate School, where he was visited by Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushinkai Karate.


This book "MOKU-RAI", as well as the first volume, "The Kyosaku", of Matsuoka Roshi's teachings can be ordered through the website of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center.