Mokusho Zen　黙照禅

Silent illumination Zen; Zen meditation that does not use koans. Contrasted with kanna Zen.

Nakatan　中单

A middle-ranking unsui.

Narashimono　鸣物

The various sound-producing implements (bells, clappers, gongs) used in a monastery to signal the times for various activities.

Nentei　拈提

To meditate upon a koan.

Nibanza　二番座

The “second sitting” at mealtimes, attended by monks whose duties kept them away from the first sitting.

Nisshitsu　入室

To enter the roshi’s sanzen room for meditation instruction

Nitten soji　日天扫除

The daily cleaning done inside and outside the monastery.

Niwazume　庭诘

The period in which a postulant at a Zen monastery must sit in the monastery entrance hall (genkan) in a bowing posture, asking for admission, usually for a period of two days. See also tangazume.

Niya sanjitsu　二夜三日

Lit., “two nights and three days”; the maximum period of time for which a monk may be absent from the monastery without having to receive permission for zanka.

Oshiku　大四九

The fourteenth of every month and the last day of every month, when the monks sleep late, then shave heads, do a major cleaning, and, during the afternoon, rest.

Rakusu　络子

The smallest style of kesa, shaped like a bib and worn around the neck.

Rintan　邻单

The monk who sits next to one in the zendo.

Rohatsu　腊八

The severest sesshin of the monastic year, commemorating the enlightenment of the Buddha. It is usually held from December 1st until the morning of December 8th, during which period the monks are not allowed to lie down to rest.

Roshi　老师

The Zen monastic master. Roughly synonymous with shike.

·　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 scroll up