The differences between Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen

According to the chapter 19 of the book “Awakening: An introduce to the history of Eastern thought”, we know some informations of the Zen Buddhism, one of the kind early Buddhism in Japan. In addition, it tells us the differences between Rinzai and Soto Zen through some three "The seeds of Zen would fall on extremely fertile ground in Japan and would repro- duce the two great schools already existing in China. In Japan, they would come to be known as Rinzai and Soto. We will examine these by looking at the contributions of three historically great figures: Eisai, Dogen, and Hakuin." (Bresnan 328) 

Zen Buddhism

Rinzai and Soto Zen are started from China and spread to Japan by Eisai and Dogen. They are different thinking to disseminate Buddhism in Japan. Therefore, the perspective of people who receive them is different .For example, Rinzai was the Zen of the aristocratic class, and Soto was the Zen more favored by common people. That is because “ Rinzai Zen monasteries became, among other things, the training grounds of the samurai. This is certainly not to say that that was the only function they served, but it definitely was an important one. Samurai families were typically associated with a particular Rinzai monastery, at which the men trained from time to time in the disciplines of Zen, especially when young.” ( Bresnan 431). In addition, Rinzai took a dynamic, energetic approach to Zen, whereas Soto was more contemplative. For example, "A person might join a Rinzai commu- nity for a short period, but the Soto monastery was more likely to attract the dedi- cated person who wished to make the way of the monk his life’s work" ( Bresnan 435). One thing that makes them different is some ritual habbits such as meditation. Both Soto and Rinzai held zazen in high regard, but Soto emphasized the practice of zazen to a far greater degree than did Rinzai. The author said "If we could enter his meditation hall we would see rows of monks dressed in the familiar black, loose-fitting monk’s robe. Unlike a Rinzai meditation hall, in which the monks sit facing inward, Dogen’s monks would be facing the wall." (Bresnan 432)

Meditation of Soto Zen Buddhism

If we give two kinds of Zen Buddhism in school, it create some different consequences. However, the goal is not coved and more and more be maintained and developed.

Rinzai zen is rather famous for being, as Alan Watts said, more gutsy than other schools. Get a koan wrong and you're likely to receive one-on-one instruction on beating as a means of focusing attention, to put it nicely. The Rinzai method seems twofold, it confronts the student with the futility of their desire to "make it" by setting up a more rigid and formal system of koans through which they must pass, and by filling it with material designed to confront their tendency to try to think their way out of it. It then pairs this with a willingness to get 'down & dirty' in bombastic elements. If there's a zen master shouting, beating students, trashing someone, etc etc, there's a higher chance it's a rinzai school master. This serves to jar the student right out of whatever comfort zone they think they might be developing. This goes on until they clearly understand the absurdity of their situation in a level more primal than high-minded logic.

Eisai

Soto is, again to quote Alan, more serene. You're apt to get less in the way of koans, but be prepared to spend considerably more time on your keester, since Soto zen still considers zazen to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Soto zen masters may not beat you... Unless they catch you sleeping when you should be meditating. You're also a bit more likely to end up with a Lao Tzu style answer than Rinzai's more Zhuangzi-like style, if that makes sense. Soto zen contents itself more with the ideas it's presenting than with direct confrontation with a student, even if discussion of the ideas is likely to be met with some consternation. If you see a description of zazen as "just sitting," Soto zen has really taken that and run with it. Soto is the more 'completed,' in that it doesn't really see much point in the bombastic elements of Rinzai. Ego dissolution is Soto's bread and butter, and everything else really doesn't get all that much attention from Soto.

Dogen Zenji

Works cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought