Zen and Words: Sacred Texts in the Zen Tradition

Year 2024, Volume: 35 Issue: 1, 211 - 245, 07.06.2024

Merve Susuz Aygül

https://doi.org/10.26650/di.2024.35.1.1341913

Abstract

The Zen tradition defines itself as a teaching and truth that is beyond words and language. According to Zen masters, Zen truth cannot be explained in words or language, nor can it be understood through the dualistic thought structure. Despite this negative attitude towards words and language, the concept of sacred texts has developed in the Zen tradition, with a rich corpus having emerged. The focus of the article is on the place of sacred texts in the Zen tradition. The article accepts the thesis that, despite the Zen tradition’s negative attitudes toward language and words, the concept of sacred texts exists within it and overlaps with other religious traditions. Just as in other religious traditions, the Zen tradition has texts that are accepted as being sacred. Like any other tradition, however, the Zen concept of sacred texts has also been accepted as having its own unique aspects. In this context, the main claims of the article are that the literature of Zen sacred texts consists of two basic categories with different functions; that even though Zen negates language, it manifests itself through words and gains existence through texts in the minds, lives, and history of its accepters; and that sacred texts are also ritual objects and objects of worship in the Zen tradition.

Keywords

History of Religions, Zen Buddhism, Sacred text, Sutra, Lineage, Monastery rules

Zen ve Kelimeler -Zen Geleneğinde Kutsal Metin-

Abstract

Zen Budist geleneğinde kelimelere ve dile yönelik negatif bir bakış açısı benimsenmektedir. Kelimelerin ve dilin Zen’in aşkın hakikatini açıklama ve aktarmada yetersiz kaldığı kabul edilmektedir. Bununla birlikte Zen geleneği kendini metinler aracılığıyla var etmektedir ve Zen geleneğinde kutsal kabul edilen onlarca metin bulunmaktadır. Kelimeler ve dile yönelik bu tür bir bakış açısına sahip olan Zen geleneğinde kutsal metnin yerinin ne olduğu bu makalenin konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Makalede Zen geleneğinin dil ve kelimelere yönelik olumsuz tavrına rağmen, temel olarak diğer dini geleneklerle örtüşen bir kutsal metin anlayışının olduğu tezi kabul edilmektedir. Diğer dini geleneklere benzer şekilde Zen geleneğinde de kutsal kabul edilen metinler bulunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte Zen’in kutsal metin anlayışının kendine özgü taraflarının bulunduğu da kabul edilmiştir. Bu bağlamda Zen kutsal metin literatürünün farklı fonksiyonlara sahip temel iki kategoriden oluştuğu; her ne kadar dili olumsuzlasa da Zen’in kendini kelimeler vasıtasıyla var ettiği, muhataplarının zihninde, hayatında ve tarih sahnesinde metinler aracılığıyla varlık kazandığı; Zen geleneğinde kutsal metnin aynı zamanda bir ritüel objesi ve tapım objesi olduğu bu makalenin temel iddialarıdır. Tüm bu iddialar kutsal metinlerin Zen’in en önemli yapı taşlarından biri olduğu sonucunu destekler niteliktedir.

Keywords

Dinler Tarihi, Zen Budizmi, Kutsal metin, Silsile, Manastır kuralları metinleri, Sutralar

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