Rinzai

British  

/ ˈrɪnzaɪ /

noun

1. a Zen Buddhist school of Japan, characterized by the use of koans to lead to moments of insight and enlightenment

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Example Sentences

There’s a story from the ninth century about three Buddhist monks crossing a bridge in rural China and coming upon a disciple of the Zen master Rinzai.

From New York Times

A longtime student of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, he was ordained a monk in 1997.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Cohen’s search for redemption led him to Mount Baldy monastery, where he trained as a Rinzai Buddhist monk.

From Economist

As a tool toward faster enlightenment, Zen's Rinzai school had its students wrestle conundrums, or koans, such as the famous query "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

From Time Magazine Archive

Ruth Fuller Sasaki, 74, Zen Buddhist scholar and first Westerner admitted to the Rinzai Zen priesthood; of a heart attack; in Kyoto, Japan.

From Time Magazine Archive