Glossary

While many “zen” terms are familiar here in the West in their Japanese usage, their Korean counterparts are relatively unknown. The following is a work in progress:

  • Bodhisattva Priest: (Bosal Taech’o/BPSN) One who has met certain training requirements, usually over at least ten years, and has taken sixty-four precepts. A Bodhisattva priest has received “full ordination” in our school, and may serve as a preceptor for others receiving the precepts.
  • Baru Gong Yang: (Jp: Oryoki) Traditional bowl monastic meal
  • Cham Seon: (Jp: Zazen)
  • Chang Gun Chukpi –wake up stick
  • Changsam: Formal ordination robe
  • Chujangja: Teacher’s stick
  • Chukpi: Bamboo clacker
  • Dae Son Sa Nim: (DSSN) “Great Zen Master.” often used by Zen Master Seung Sahn’s students in referring to him.
  • Hapchang: (Jp: gassho) the gesture of placing the hands palm to palm before the chest to indicate respect, gratitude, and humility.
  • Hwadu: The critical phrase, or principle theme of a kong-an.
  • Inga: (Jp: Inka Shomei) “public seal”; certification of a student’s completion of, or breakthrough in, kong-an practice. Recognition of dharma transmission from teacher to student.
  • Interview: (Jp: Sanzen/Dokusan) a formal, private meeting between a Zen teacher and a student in which koans are used to test and stimulate the student’s practice; may also occasion informal questions and instruction.
  • Kun-sunim: A “senior” sunim (see “sunim”)
  • Ganhwa Son: Kan (observing) the Critical Phrase (hwadu) – the practice of Kong-an meditation
  • Kasa: (Jp: Kesa/Rakusu) colored piece of cloth worn around the neck or over the shoulders, symbolic of Buddhist vows and precepts.
  • KATZ!: traditional Zen belly shout; used to cut off discriminative thinking.
  • Kyo: Doctrinal Study
  • Kyol Che: (Jp: Ango): “tight dharma”; in Korean Zen tradition, an intensive retreat of 90 days.
  • Kong-an: (Jp: koan) Literally “public document.”  In Zen tradition, a record of a short dialogue or encounter between a student and teacher given by a teacher to help students go beyond discriminative, conceptual understanding to a more direct, experiential wisdom.
  • Moktak: fish-shaped wooden instrument used as a drum to set the rhythm for chanting.
  • Po Hang: (Jp: Kinhin) Walking meditation.
  • Son/Seon/Soen: Zen
  • Sonbang: Meditation hall
  • Sondok Popsa: (Jp: Hoshi) a senior Zen practitioner who has been designated a “Dharma Holder” – a recognized Zen teacher “in training” who has not yet received Inga.
  • Sonsa Nim: (SSN) (Jp. Roshi) Zen Master.
  • Sunim: General title for Korean Zen Buddhist clergy.
  • Yong Maeng Jong Jin (Jp: Sesshin): literally, “valorous or intrepid concentration,” paraphrased “to leap like a tiger while sitting.”  In the west, it is a short silent retreat of two to seven days involving long hours of formal meditation practice a day.  Participants follow a schedule of bowing, sitting, chanting, eating, and working, with an emphasis on sitting meditation.  During the retreat, each participant has interviews with a Zen Master, Jido Popsa–nim, or Sondok Popsa.
  • Zen Priest: (Pop Taech’o/PSN) one who has met certain training requirements, usually over at least five years, and has taken sixteen precepts.