From: wong@rkna50.riken.go.jp (Wong Weng Fai)
Subject: Rinzai vs Soto Zen
Date: 6 Oct 92 06:58:33 GMT

Hi,
	
	Here's my simplistic view about the differences between Rinzai and
Soto as they are in Japan today.

	Rinzai relies on both the koan and zazen. During a Rinzai sesshin
session ("intensive training"), the emphasis is on the koan. In a Rinzai
zazen, you also get hit from the front - twice :-P In China, Rinzai was the
biggest Zen school especially after the "5 families" was reduced to 2
(Rinzai and Soto) after Sung dynasty. There is a saying that goes something
like "Rinzai the world, Soto in a corner". Currently, the situation in Japan
is exactly the other way around (which I'll explain later). As a general 
"feel", Rinzai is more "high class". In Japan, Rinzai monks operates mainly in
the cities and courts. Not surprisingly, these monks are quite into tea
ceremonies, painting and the arts in general. Famous Rinzai masters include
Lin Zhi (the founder), Eisai (who brought it to Japan), Hakuin (who was
responsible for its popularity here) and, of course, D.T. Suzuki (who
introduced it to the West). 

	Soto (Cao-Dong) was named for Dong San and his disciple Cao San. Koans
are done away with in Soto Zen. The main emphasis is therefore zazen. The
sesshins in Soto are concentrated on zazen (quite severe if you ask me). These
guys hit you from behind and once per try. In direct contrast to Rinzai, Soto 
favours "other-worldiness". Dogen (who introduced it to Japan) hated 
politicians and politics and preferred the "quite mountain, deep valley" type 
of living. Rinzai, for example, sided with the military during WWII. (Not sure
what the Soto position was though.) They are therefore the more "vulgar" people 
(most of the monks were farmers) with their activities located in the rural 
areas. I once asked a Soto priest if he practice tea ceremony etc and his reply 
was "I'm a Soto priest; I'm just a poor farmer's descendent". Shinryu Suzuki is
said to have brought this lesser known form of Zen to the West.

	And don't buy the story that Zen don't rely on scriptures etc. Both
Rinzai and Soto Zen monks are expected to be experts (at least in chanting)
of some of the more popular sutras - the Heart and Kannon (Chapter 25 of the
Lotus) being the favourite. ;-)
===

From: dorothy@cvedc.prime.com (Dorothy Robinson)
Date: 6 Oct 1992 18:09:19 -0700

The differences between Soto and Rinzai Zen are mainly in their teaching
practices.  There is very little difference that I'm aware of in their
philosophies.

Rinzai Zen, which has more literature avaliable in English, uses koan
study, and strives for an early kensho (satori) experience.  It was
historically associated with the Samurai, so there's what feels to me
like a "macho" element.  It's rigorous, fast, and uses a more intellectual
approach, although of course it strives to transcend intellect.

Soto does not use koan study, but uses the events of daily life as its
material ("The koan appears naturally in daily life" - Dogen).  The
Precepts are also important.  Because of the emphasis on daily-life training,
I think that less time is spent in Zazen, although it is still the
mainstay of the training.  Kensho is still desired, but it is considered
better for a trainee to mature gradually and the kensho will happen as
a matter of course.  As someone else mentioned, Soto people face the
wall in Zazen while Rinzai people face outward.  I don't know the reason
for that.

In the United States it gets confusing, because the lineage that came to the
U.S. had a recent cross-fertilization between the two systems.  Most of the
Zen lineages here are nominally Soto but make heavy use of Rinzai practice.
As my previous paragraphs no doubt show, I'm from a lineage that uses almost
exclusively Soto practice, though even here the cross-fertilization is in
evidence.