Satori

Satori [ satoɽi ] (Japanese悟り, literally " understanding" ) refers to the experience of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.

Satori as experience

Satori is the recognition of the universal nature of existence, which is also referred to as first cause or Buddha - nature. It is the main subject of Zen Buddhism and can only be understood through personal experience. Although Satori today's dominant school of thought, the lightning and unexpected occurs, the Satoriereignis is generally a year- long preparation practice, mostly through zazen advance. According to some schools of thought Satori is also equated with zazen ( su: Ways to Satori ). Any other view than that of Huineng's " southern school" learned sudden Satori propagated in the 7th century, the so-called " northern school " Shenxiu (606? -706 ), Who could not prevail in this dispute. However, until now often have different levels of enlightenment be stated.

In Zen Satori is conceptually explained as a consciousness that is not limited by interference of discriminating intellect or limited in his sight. Meditative experiences that were the Satori described come close and meditators tend delimitation experiences such as an incipient liberation from the ego or of the time. People who experience Satori, speak of a " feeling of emptiness " of a " unconditional happiness " and similar holistic experience. The satori experience is thus both specific as well as metaphysically justifiable.

Satori is indeed often described as a temporary condition, but given in the Pali canon as the ground state, which is eclipsed only by " clouding of the mind" ( Kilesa ). The better known in the west term nirvana has sometimes been described as a counter- state to Satori. The Pali word Nibbana, which means " emptiness " or " absence of something" that was circulated after its transfer into Thai, where he simply means " Abgekühltheit " or " absence of heat" in the sense of serenity from there. From Thai, etc., he was translated into English and from English into French, in turn, German and many places wrongly and meaningful distorting than "nothing" or " nothingness " declared. In fact, Nibbana called emptiness in profane language merely the absence of anything in particular. The Satori is emptiness refers to the absence of the discriminatory intellect.

Sometimes the term is synonymous Kensho or understood as a "small Satori ".

Ways to Satori

The two main branches of Zen Buddhism favor each different approaches to achieve the Satori. Followers of the Soto school, whose most famous member is Zen master Dogen Kigen (1200-1253), set zazen and Satori practically the same. In the Rinzai school achievement of satori through meditation paradoxical tenets ( koans ) is practiced.

Accordingly Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki describes two ways to Satori:

• The sinking in zazen, which gradually freed by the Spirit of disturbing thoughts, sensations and emotions.
• Achieving a great spiritual crisis by dealing with koans, from which the spirit freed with a jump to Satori.