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How to Practice Soto Zen Buddhism

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Related Tags: soto | zen | meditation | tradition | enlightenment
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Faith
  • Understanding
  • Meditation
  • Temple
  • Step 1:
    Read Buddhist literature. Study the doctrine and spiritual philosophy of the Soto Zen tradition. Understand the spiritual "truths and laws" of Soto Zen Buddhism and its history and origin.
  • Step 2:
    Find a temple or social network of Soto Zen Buddhists in your city. A Web search of Buddhist temples in your city will provide a short list of Buddhist faith temples. Contact each temple.
  • Step 3:
    Learn the importance of mediation in the Soto Zen tradition. Meditation and manipulation of the physical form are principle philosophies within the Soto Zen tradition. Understand the role of the body and healing through meditation, silence and fasting.
  • Step 4:
    Understand the rules of reincarnation, karma and enlightenment. The Soto Zen Buddhist tradition is one of many traditions within the Buddhist religion. Its practices are distinct, but its observation of reincarnation, karma and enlightenment are not. Study how the Buddhist religion values and honors god, the after life, the body and the mind.
  • Step 5:
    Practice the teachings of the Buddha and incorporate the practice of meditation into your daily schedule. The Soto Zen tradition is based principally on key associations between the phyical form and enlightenment. Study how the body can be used to silence the mind and surrender to "nothingness".

How to Practice Soto Zen Buddhism Provided by eHow.com
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