*'''Zen Bukkyo''' (Soto & Rinzai): this puts the emphasis on sudden awareness of reality through meditation. Zen began to make inroads in the 12th century through the teachings of Eisai (Rinzai) and Dogen (Soto) after finding its way over from China in about 500 CE. Zen has been a heavy influence on Japanese art ([[Noh]], poetry, [[Ikebana]], tea ceremony, screen painting) and is likely the best known form of Buddhism in the Western World. One caveat is that the form of Zen taught in a lot of Western martial arts schools has little to do with the original. | *'''Zen Bukkyo''' (Soto & Rinzai): this puts the emphasis on sudden awareness of reality through meditation. Zen began to make inroads in the 12th century through the teachings of Eisai (Rinzai) and Dogen (Soto) after finding its way over from China in about 500 CE. Zen has been a heavy influence on Japanese art ([[Noh]], poetry, [[Ikebana]], tea ceremony, screen painting) and is likely the best known form of Buddhism in the Western World. One caveat is that the form of Zen taught in a lot of Western martial arts schools has little to do with the original. |