Mayka,
I’ve studied under both Renzai and Soto masters. Generally speaking, Renzai uses koans and Soto only shikantaza (clear-mind meditation). The culmination of both teachings is shikantaza. Koans are just teaching techniques or tools used to help you stop your discriminating mind so you can be clearly aware of Buddha Nature. Some Soto schools do, however, employ koans. The teacher I ended my formal training with had teaching credentials (Inca) from masters in both Soto and Renzai schools. He tailored his teaching techniques according to the student. Since I started with his Renzai master and began koan study with him, he continued to use koan study with me all throughout my training. To what ‘slaps’ are you referring? I didn’t read about any ‘slaps’ to a lady in the koan that was posted a couple days ago. …Bill! From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Maria Lopez Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 4:19 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Zen] New member. Thanks Jody. Doesn't the Soto tradition uses koans?. Should be understood them that slaps the lady received in the koan given, were defectuos because nobody can awake anybody else except for oneselves? Mayka --- On Fri, 8/10/10, Jody W. Ianuzzi <[email protected]> wrote: From: Jody W. Ianuzzi <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Zen] New member. To: [email protected] Date: Friday, 8 October, 2010, 17:10 Hello Mayka, It is my understanding that Soto Zen is just about sitting and Renzei Zen is about koans. When the Roshi slaps a student in Renzei it is not punishment it is to wake them up and bring them to the moment. The student bows in gratitude for the reminder. JODY __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5516 (20101008) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
