The document discusses Zen philosophy, highlighting key teachings from various Zen monks on concepts such as emptiness and non-attachment. It also explains the origins of Zen as a merger of Hindu and Buddhist thought and includes a notable anecdote about the Buddha conveying wisdom through silence and a flower. Kongo Zen India emphasizes fostering strong individuals in society through spiritual practices like Shorinji Kempo.

1. ZEN KOANS
KONGO ZEN INDIA
“Let tomorrow’s wind blow tomorrow”

2. A living man who sits and does not lie down;
A dead man who lies down and does not sit!
After all, these are just dirty skeletons
Hui Neng – Zen Monk
JUST DIRTY SKELETONS
KONGO ZEN INDIA

3. The body is the wisdom-tree,
The mind is a bright mirror in a stand;
Take care to wipe it all the time
And allow no dust to cling.
Shen Hsiu – Zen Monk
MIRROR IN A STAND
KONGO ZEN INDIA

4. Fundamentally no wisdom-tree exists,
Nor the stand of a mirror bright.
Since all is void from the beginning
Where can the dust alight?
Hui Neng – Zen Monk
ALL IS VOID
KONGO ZEN INDIA

5. He who holds that nothingness;
Is formless, flowers are visions,
Let him enter boldly!
Lin Chi – Zen Monk
LET HIM ENTER BOLDLY!
KONGO ZEN INDIA

6. When I pass over the bridge,
Lo, the water flows not,
But the bridge is flowing.
Fudaichi – Zen Monk
THE BRIDGE IS FLOWING
KONGO ZEN INDIA

7. Empty-handed I go and yet the spade is in my hands; I walk on foot, and yet I am riding on the back of an ox.
Fudaichi – Zen Monk
EMPTY-HANDED I GO
KONGO ZEN INDIA

8. The perfect way knows no difficulties,
If you wish to see it with your own eyes
Have no fixed thoughts either for or against it.
Zen Koan
PERFECT WAY
KONGO ZEN INDIA

9. ZEN HISTORY
KONGO ZEN INDIA
Zen came into being through the merging of the Hindu-Buddhist understanding, that the essential reality of life can be discovered through non-attachment to any of its particular forms.
The harmony of life with Dharma can be realized by letting go of that life so that it is free to be itself.
The word Zen is a Japanese rendering of the old Chinese word Ch’an, which in its turn was taken from the Indian word Dhyana

10. ZEN BORN
KONGO ZEN INDIA
One morning the Buddha arrived to find twelve hundred people seated, waiting for him to speak. He sat in front of them in silence. The time went past but still there was silence.
At last, silently, he held up a flower. Nobody understood this gesture except one person, who smiled, having seen that no words could be a substitute for the living flower.
The Buddha said, ‘Here is the true Way and I transmit to you.’

11. OUR CONTACT DETAILS
KONGO ZEN INDIA
We are interested in building strong human beings, who will function effectively in society wherever they go.
PERAMBUR-NUNGAMBAKKAM- ALWARPET-KOTTIVAKKAM
www.kongozen.org
kongozen@gmail.com
+91-9025140051, 9940377944
ikongozen
ikongozen
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12. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Kongo Zen’s Shorinji Kempo has developed because sophisticated young people earnestly reach for something beyond technique, reach for a spiritual element.