Kensho

Kenshō (見性) (C. "Wu") is a Japanese term for enlightenment experiences—most commonly used within the confines of Zen Buddhism.

Most commonly used within the confines of Zen Buddhism—literally meaning "seeing one's nature"Baroni, 188] or "true self."Satomi, 203] It generally "refers to the realization of nonduality of subject and object."Heine, 290] Frequently used in juxtaposition with satori (or, "catching on"),Harvey, 275-276] there is sometimes a distinction made between the two in that some consider satori to be qualitatively deeper. Kenshō itself has been said to be "...a blissful realization where a person's inner nature, the originally pure mind, is directly known as an illuminating emptiness, a thusness which is dynamic and immanent in the world." Kenshō experiences are tiered, in that they escalate from initial glimpses into the nature of mind, on to an experience of emptiness, and then perhaps on to Buddhahood.

Training

Working towards this realisation is usually a lengthy process of meditation and introspection under guidance of a Zen or other Buddhist teacher, usually in intensive sesshin retreats. The Methods used differ depending upon the tradition and practice.
Soto tends towards a gradual approach preferring to let the experiences happen on their own while Rinzai tends toward the use of Koans or a set Koan question as a technique to bring the experience up sooner.

Which methods are more appropriate for any given student are made by which lineage of Zen the student practices as well as what seems most appropriate by the student's teacher.

It should be noted that the Kensho experience is not limited to Japanese Zen Buddhism traditions and occurs in many traditions as well as outside of Buddhist practice.

Kensho may also be spontaneous, upon hearing or reading some significant phrase, or as result of a profound dream. For example, Zen lore describes the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng's spontaneous experience of kensho upon hearing a phrase of the Diamond sutra.

Koans are a technique that can be used as meditation aids, (particularly in the Rinzai tradition). For example, one koan is known as: 'Who am I', since it is this question that guides the enquiry into one's true nature. The realization that there is no 'I' that is doing the thinking, but rather that the thinking process brings forth the illusion of an 'I', is a step on the way to Kensho.

It is not unusual for various hallucinations and psychological disturbances to arise prior to true kensho, these are referred to as makyo. Distinguishing these delusions from actual kensho is the primary function of the teacher, as the student may be erroneously convinced they have realized kensho.

References

*cite book| last =Jiyu-Kenett| first =Rev. Master PTNH| authorlink =Houn Jiyu-Kennett|Rev. Master P.T.N.H. Jiyu-Kennett| coauthors =| title =How To Grow A Lotus Blossom (or How A Zen Buddhist Prepares For Death)| publisher =Shasta Abbey Press| date =1983| location =| pages =| url =http://www.amazon.com/Lotus-Blossom-Buddhist-Prepares-Death/dp/0930066103| doi =| id = | isbn = 0930066103
*cite book| last =Dogen| first =Eihei| authorlink =Dogen| coauthors =Translated by Rev. Hubert Nearman (Dr. Mark J. Nearman)| title =Shobogenzo| publisher =Shasta Abbey Press| date =1983| location =Chapter: Uji among others| pages =| url =http://www.shastaabbey.org/shobogenzo1.htm| doi =| id = | isbn = 978-0-930066-27-7
*cite book| last =Suzuki| first =Daisetz Teitaro| authorlink =D. T. Suzuki| coauthors =| title =Manual of Zen Buddhism| publisher =Kyoto: Eastern Buddhist Soc. 1934. London: Rider & Company, 1950, 1956 Grove Press, 1994| date =1934-1994| location =Ten Oxherding Pictures| pages =| url =http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/mzb/index.htm| doi =| id = | isbn = 0802130658
*cite book| last =Baroni| first =Helen J.| authorlink =Helen J. Baroni| coauthors =| title =The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism| publisher =The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.| date =2002| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42680558&referer=brief_results| doi =| id = | isbn = 0823922405
*cite book| last =Harvey| first =Peter| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices| publisher =Cambridge University Press| date =| location =1990| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/19589186&referer=brief_results| doi =| id = | isbn = 0521313333
*cite book| last =Heine| first =Steven| authorlink =Steven Heine| coauthors =Dale S. Wright| title =The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism| publisher =Oxford University Press| date =2000| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=0195117484&=Search&qt=owc_search| doi =| id = | isbn = 0195117484
*cite book| last =Kiew Kit| first =Wong| authorlink =Wong Kiew Kit| coauthors =| title =The Complete Book of Zen| publisher =|Tuttle Publishing date =2002| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=0804834415| doi =| id = | isbn = 0804834415
*cite book| last =Kraft| first =Kenneth| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Zen: Tradition and Transition|publisher =Grove Press| date =1988| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/17259723&referer=brief_results| doi =| id = | isbn = 080213162X
*cite book| last =Satomi| first =Myodo| authorlink =| coauthors =King, Sallie B.| title =Journey in Search of the Way: The Spiritual Autobiography of Satomi Myodo| publisher =State University of New York Press| date =1993| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=0791419711&=Search&qt=owc_search| doi =| id = | isbn = 0791419711
*cite book| last =Senzaki| first =Nyogen| authorlink =Nyogen Senzaki| coauthors =Shimano, Eido| title =Like a Dream, Like a Fantasy: The Zen Teachings and Translations of Nyogen Senzaki| publisher =Wisdom Publications| date =2005| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=0861712803| doi =| id = | isbn = 0861712803
*cite book| last =Yamada| first =Mumon| authorlink =Yamada Mumon| coauthors =Victor Sōgen Hori| title =Lectures on the Ten Oxherding Pictures| publisher =University of Hawaii Press| date =2004| location =| pages =| url =http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=0824828933&=Search&qt=owc_search| doi =| id = | isbn = 0824828933

ee also

* Enlightenment
* Seongcheol
* Mushi dokugo
* Zen
* Satori
* Nirvana
* Shoshin
* Arhat
* Daigo
* Soto
* Rinzai
* Obaku