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Sanzen (参禅), aka nisshitsu (入室), means going to a Zen master for instruction. In the Rinzai school, it has the same meaning as dokusan, which is specifically a private interview between student and master, often centering on the student's grasp of an assigned koan. If the master rings a bell to dismiss the student, this means the student's understanding is not right and that their work with the koan must continue. It is typically held twice a day in a monastery, though during a week-long sesshin sanzen may take place as often as four times in one day.

See also

• Jikido
• Jikijitsu
• Keisaku

Notes

1. Fischer-Schreiber 1989, pg. 306
2. Loori, 80
3. Suzuki, 105-106
4. Chadwick, 249
5. Omori, 145

References

• Chadwick, David (1994). Thank You and OK!: An American Zen Failure in Japan. Arkana. ISBN 0-14-019457-6. OCLC 29638449.
• Loori, John Daido (2002). The Art of Just Sitting: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-327-3. OCLC 49773732.
• Fischer-Schreiber, Ingrid; Schuhmacher, Stephan; Woerner, Gert (1989). The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Hinduism. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 0-87773-433-X.
• Omori, Sogen; Dōgen Hosokawa; Roy Kenichi Yoshimoto (1996). An Introduction to Zen Training: A Translation of Sanzen Nyumon. Kegan Paul International. ISBN 0-7103-0534-6. OCLC 35042686.
• Suzuki, D.T.; Zenchu Sato (2004). The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk. Cosimo Classics. ISBN 1-59605-041-1. OCLC 67391001.

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