By: AJ Witte
This past week we delved into much of what many would consider to be “Japanese art”. This is to say that we have arrived at what often comes to mind when the words Japanese art is thrown around, images of descending geese, cherry blossoms, very ornate yet simple building and room designs. However, I think the most interesting thing we covered in class was that of Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a form of Buddhism which arrived to Japan in the Kamakura era but flourished during the time of the Muromachi period. I think a major part of Zen Buddhism that strikes me as the most interesting is the idea of sudden and immediate enlightenment, often during times of boredom or wrote tasks. This is in stark contrast to the gradual and prolonged enlightenment seen in other traditional forms of Buddhism such as pure land and Nichiren Buddhism. Enlightenment which is worked up towards and is the eventual capstone of your life’s journey. I think that if anything, this idea of sudden enlightenment opens the door for such enlightenment to a much broader stock of people, not only those who have completely given themselves to monkhood. I believe that this is through a focus on the present moment and through zazen meditation. We spoke in class of Zen Buddhist monks being very caught up in seemingly menial tasks, such as dishwashing, or clearing leaves. Tasks which take little to no brain power, which in turn allows you the chance and space to dwell within your mind in the form of great introspection until you eventually reach this sudden enlightenment. This abundance of introspection allows you the ability and chance to see the world for how it “truly is”. The concept of shower thoughts comes to mind when I think of such a concept. Everyone always says that their best ideas come when they are in the shower. Your shower is of course, the perfect place to sit with your thoughts and focus solely on such. It feels to me that with a growing warrior class and too many rebellions to count, we see a subtle shift towards equity between classes. Zen Buddhism being another small but meaningful shift. A sort of bonding of the classes which seeks to find a subtle kind of unity between all people. This is all to say that perhaps, if enlightenment can and will happen to anyone during even the most wrote of activities, it may leave a glimpse of hope to those who are forced to live rather strenuous and mundane lives.
Descending Geese at Katada, c. 1834-1835
Sources:
Ellwood, Robert, and Ellwood. “Zen Buddhism.” In Encyclopedia of Global Religions, by Wade Roof, and Mark Juergensmeyer. Sage Publications, 2011
