Serene Reflection Meditation
Tradition
Buddhism originated in India 2500 years ago with the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha. In the 6th century C.E., an Indian Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, arrived in China. His teaching emphasized meditation and unceasing practice. The word for meditation is "Ch'an" in Chinese and "Zen" in Japanese; therefore this teaching became known as Ch'an Buddhism in China and Zen Buddhism in Japan.
The Serene Reflection Meditation tradition (Japanese: Soto Zen; Chinese: Ts'ao-Tung Ch'an) is the oldest tradition extant within Zen Buddhism. It was brought from China and introduced into Japan by Great Master Dogen in the 13th century. This teaching stresses the practice of meditation, the necessity of keeping the Buddhist Precepts, and the unity of training and enlightenment. Although the external form of Buddhist practice has changed and adapted to each particular culture as Buddhism moved from India, to China, to Japan and now to the West, the essence of the Buddha's teaching remains unchanged. The Buddhist training in the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives continues as part of this unbroken religious tradition.
Order of Buddhist Contemplatives