GLOSSARY
Brief definitions of some Japanese and Buddhist
terms, as used in this book
(Skt. means Sanskrit)
Abhidharma - Ancient Indian psychological
branch of Buddhist teaching detailing the elements of reality.
Avalokiteshvara -
Skt. - the bodhisattva of compassion who
hears the cries of the world.
bessu - Ceremonial padded white socks without toe chamber.
Bodhidharma - An Indian monk who became the first ancestor of
Zen in China.
bodhisattva -
Skt. - enlightening being, one who vows to enter
Nirvana after all others, who vows to save all beings.
bonshō - Large bronze hanging temple bell.
daikon - Giant white Japanese radish.
dhāranī -
Skt. - chants or incantations, the sounds of which
have beneficial effects, encouraging compassion or longevity.
dharma -
Skt. - Buddhist law, teaching.
dhyāna Skt. - Buddhist meditation.
doan -
A monk whose responsibilities include hitting bells.
Dōgen Zenji [Eihei Dogen] - The founder of Soto Zen in Japan.
dōjō -
Practice hall.
dokusan -
Soto Zen term for sanzen, private interview with the
teacher.
eightfold path -
The way to Nirvana: right meditation, right
wisdom, right livelihood, etc.
Eiheiji -
One of the two head temples of Soto Zen.
fusuma -
Sliding door or partition, often covered by thick
paper.
futon -
Bedding.
gaijin -
Foreigner (literally, “outside person”).
gambatte -
Go for it, make a strong effort.
gasshō -
Buddhist gesture of greeting, with the palms of the
hands placed together.
gāthā -
Skt. - originally a song, a short verse used to remind
one of fundamental intention in the midst of everyday activities.
genmai cha - Green tea with some brown rice in it.
geta -
Wooden platform sandals.
hai -
Yes.
han -
Wooden plaque struck with a mallet to call monks to the
zendō.[lit. - wood]
hashi -
Chopsticks.
hattō -
Dharma hall, often the main temple building.
Heart Sutra -
The core text of the Prajnā Pāramitā Sūtras, the
Perfection of Wisdom, teaching on emptiness.
hinoki -
Japanese cypress, temple carpenters’ favorite.
Hōjō-san -
Title for the head priest of a temple.
hōmu sutōru -
A home store.
hondō -
The main hall, or building, of a temple.
hōyō -
A Buddhist memorial service.
ino -
Soto Zen term for the officer in charge of ceremony and
zendo discipline.
janken -
The scissors, paper, stone game played with hands.
jinja - Shinto shrine
jisha -
Attendant to the abbot or officiating priest.
Jōdo Shin-shū -
“The true school of the Pure Land,” a
faith-oriented sect of Buddhism, the largest in Japan.
Kabuki -
A popular, bawdy drama developed in the seventeenth
century and characterized by elaborate costume and stylized acting
by an all male cast. Now a classical theater form.
kama -
A short-handled sickle.
kami -
Spirits; gods associated with Shinto. Also used to mean
God the creator.
kana -
The Japanese syllabaries, hiragana and katakana.
kanji -
Chinese characters (ideographs) used in Japanese
writing.
karaoke -
Wildly popular activity often done in night clubs
wherein people sing along with instrumental versions of popular
songs (literally “empty orchestra”).
kesa -
Outer monk’s robe of ordination (okesa, more
respectfully).
ki -
Vital, dynamic energy of body, mind and spirit; chi in
Chinese.
kinhin -
Walking zazen.
kōan -
Literally, “public case,” an exemplary story or dialogue
used as a meditation object and worked on with a teacher.
koromo -
The long-sleeved monk’s robe worn over the kimono and
under the kesa.
koto -
A plucked stringed instrument having seven or thirteen
strings stretched over a convex wooden sounding board.
kuin -
The temple kitchen.
kunugi -
A kind of oak.
kyōsaku -
Soto Zen term for the stick used to hit drowsy monks
on the shoulder in order to bring them back to alertness.
mamushi -
Japan’s main poisonous snake.
matcha -
Powdered green tea associated with tea ceremony.
mizo -
A water run-off ditch, from curb to canal size.
mochi -
Gluten rice cake, popular at new years.
Mountain Seat Ceremony -
A rite in which the abbotship of a
temple is passed on to the successor.
mu -
Name of the most famous kōan of Zen. See “Does a dog have
buddha nature?” [lit. - no]
mukade -
A kind of poisonous centipede.
namagomi -
Organic garbage.
nani -
What.
nine clay balls -
Reference to a very old Soto Zen method of
wiping the behind.
obentō -
Boxed meal, compartmentalized meal, from cheap to
fancy.
obi -
A sash wrapped around the waist over the kimono.
ofuro -
Bathtub (respectful form of furo).
ohaka -
Grave, tomb, graveyard (respectful form of haka).
omedetō -
Congratulations.
ōryōki -
Monks’ stacked and cloth-wrapped eating bowls.
ōsetsuma -
Parlor.
rakusu -
Monk or lay biblike vestment.
ramen -
A type of Chinese noodle very popular in Japan.
Rinzai -
Zen -
One of the two main sects of Zen,
emphasizing vigorous dynamic style and systematic koan study.
rōshi -
Venerable old teacher; respectful title for priest,
especially in the U.S., where it is used as a title to mean Zen
master.
sama -
Polite form of address used after the name of another
(never of oneself).
samādhi -
Skt. - a deep meditative state.
samu -
Temple work practice.
samue -
Temple work clothes.
sangha -
Skt. - the Buddhist community.
sanmon -
The entrance gate to a temple, often a substantial
building.
sanzen -
Private interview with the Zen master concerning koan,
breathing, Zen practice. Usually a Rinzai term.
seiza -
Traditional Japanese position for sitting on floor
wherein one rests on the knees and shins.
sensei -
Title of respect, used especially for teachers,
doctors and other professionals.
sesshin -
A concentrated zazen retreat of one or more days,
usually five or seven.
shashu -
A formal position wherein the hands are held together
at the solar plexus.
shiku -
-nichi -
Days for attending to private tasks in
temple life (literally, four-nine days).
Shinto -
Japan’s native animist religion.
shōji -
Sliding door of latticework and translucent rice paper.
shū -
Sect, as in Sōtō-shū.
soba -
Buckwheat noodles.
sodai -
gomi -
Coarse trash, big useless stuff; often used
as a term for retired husbands (who are also called “wet leaves”).
Sōtō -
Zen -
(In Eng., Soto Zen) One of the two main sects
of Zen, emphasizing “just sitting” or silent illumination
meditation, and its application to everyday activity.
stūpa -
Skt. - memorial monuments, originally built for the
historical Buddha, pagoda being a type of stupa.
sugi -
Japanese cedar.
sumi -
Traditional black ink.
sumimasen -
Something like “excuse me.”
sunakku -
Night club or bar (literally, “snack”).
sūtra -
Skt. - discourses of the Buddha, used more loosely for
old Buddhist scriptures or scriptures to be chanted.
suzumebachi -
“Sparrow” bee.
tabi -
Socks with a separate pocket for the big toe.
takuhatsu -
Formal monk’s begging (literally, to entrust the
bowl).
tenzo -
The head of the temple kitchen.
tōsu -
Temple toilet.
uguisu -
Japanese nightingale.
ushigaeru -
Bullfrog.
yakitori -
Japanese shish kebab (literally, grilled chicken)
and the restaurants that specialize in such.
yakuseki -
Monk’s informal supper.
yakuza -
The Japanese crime syndicates.
yamabato -
Turtledove.
zabuton -
Flat square cushion to kneel or sit on.
zafu -
Zazen cushion, usually black and round.
zagu -
The monk’s bowing cloth.
zazen -
Zen meditation, sitting meditation.
zazenkai -
Zazen group or meeting.
zendō -
Zen meditation hall, zazen hall.
zōri -
Traditional straw sandals, now usually plastic thongs.
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