Enlightenment (Satori) in Japanese Zen Buddhism: Tangible and Worldly Repercussions of a Transcendent Experience

Abstract

Enlightenment, known as Satori in Japanese Buddhism, is of central importance as a doctrine that defines the ultimate goal to be achieved for all Buddhist schools. Zen Buddhism defines itself as the transmission of the enlightenment experience of Sakyamuni Buddha from mind to mind through the generations, thus placing enlightenment at its core. Along with this importance, there is no consensus on a definition, method, or feature of the enlightenment doctrine due to its nature. The main point emphasized in the tradition about the enlightenment is that this experience cannot be described in words, that it is an experience beyond language. However, the Zen tradition has a wide literature on enlightenment, it fundamentally accepts that enlightenment is a language-transcendent experience. In short, although enlightenment is accepted as the essence of the Zen tradition, its indefinability has led to it being interpreted as a transcendent experience that is lived but not explained. Enlightenment is understood as a transcendent and abstract experience in general in Buddhist schools and in Zen. But it is possible to see the tangible expressions and worldly repercussions of enlightenment when we look at the history of Buddhism. While Buddhist and Zen literature often focuses on the ideal definitions/indefinability of enlightenment, it is often overlooked that in lived Zen, enlightenment has a visibility and a tangible representation in the daily lives of monks. This article deals with the understanding of enlightenment in the Zen tradition in this context. The main claim of the article is that although Japanese Zen masters have defined enlightenment as fundamentally indefinable, transcendent, and language-transcending, and have focused on the ideal enlightenment narratives in the Buddhist tradition, enlightenment was tangibly reflected in the lives of monks in the medieval Japanese Zen school, and that in lived Zen, enlightenment served as a tool for obtaining worldly benefits as well as spiritual authority. The subject and the claim are based on the works of Keizan J?kin, who is considered to be the second most important figure in the Japanese S?t? Zen school, Denk?roku, Keizan Shingi, and Zazen Yojinki. © 2023 The Author(s).