World Zen Circles - Fall 2025 CHIN/MVMT2080 Introduction to Zen Meditation

JoinIntroduction to Zen Meditation

Fall 2025

CHIN/MVMT 2080; 3 credits

Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College, CUNY

Professor: Chia-ju Chang

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to the Chan (Chinese) or Zen (Japanese) school of Buddhism, a tradition that emphasizes direct experience, meditation, and the living expression of wisdom in everyday life. Students will be introduced to the origins and development of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, tracing its historical roots and cultural context. Together, we will explore the foundations of Chan/Zen practice through classical teachings and key philosophical concepts, such as emptiness, non-attachment, and direct experience. Students will also engage with koan—paradoxical stories and teacher-student dialogues—that illuminate Zen’s unique methods for awakening insight. Taught in English.

Recommendation: Students are encouraged to take the companion course CHIN/MVMT 2081 (2 credits, TH 8-9:40 pm). This Zazen-focused course offers direct training in seated meditation, helping to deepen your understanding of Zen practice.

Join google classroom: https://classroom.google.com/c/Nzk5MjQxNjY1ODI4?cjc=frcebehq

Class code: frcebehq

W1. 8/29 Living in the age of distraction and profound inauthenticity of the self: Attention crisis, cognitive degradation, and identity crisis

In-Class activities: zazen&massage; The Attention Crisis - Johann Hari #17; deep writing and sharing

HW: Work on Assignment #1.

W2. 9/5 The Tian Tai meditation school

Guest speaker: Ven. Chang-hwa (Note: During the class, please take notes on the guest speaker's talk; we will reflect on and discuss them in the next class.)

HW: 1. Watch Why We’re All Burning Out | Byung-Chul Han’s Warning to the World. Jot down your reflections to bring to class for discussion.

2. Assignment #2. Due 9/26.

W3. 9/12 Unveiling the endless scrolling: Boredom

In-class activities: Zazen&Massage, review Assignment #1, watch The value of boredom, deep writing and sharing

HW: Watch Nosedive (from the Black Mirror series). Connect the episode to course themes such as distraction, boredom, and self-identity. Develop one paragraph that captures your perspective on the current state of your own mental life in relation to these themes. Work on Assignment #3. Due 9/19.

W4. 9/19 Who Am I in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism?

In-class activities: Zazen&Massage, review Assignment #3, deep writing and sharing

HW: Watch Modern Life Feels Emptier Than Ever. Jot down your reflections to bring to class for discussion.

W5. 9/26 What are boredom, no-thing, and "in-between" intervals?

In-class activities: Zazen&massage ("Did you notice any trace of “lack” or “something missing” in your own experience? How does Loy’s analysis of groundlessness relate to this moment?); deep writing and sharing

HW: Assignment #4. Due: 10/3

W6. 10/3 From Lack to emptiness: Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East

In-class activities: Zazen&massage, meditative cinematic practice, deep writing, and sharing.

HW:

1) Watch The value of boredom. Jot down your reflections to bring to class for discussion.

2) Assignment #5 Journal entry. Due: 10/31

W7. 10/10 The Not-knowing Mind

In-class activities: Zazen&massage, deep listening (teisho on "The Ordinary Mind is the Way" by Prof. Spellmeyer), deep writing, and sharing

HW: 1) Read: Bodhidharma: Stories and Legends. Jot down your observations to bring to class for discussion.

W8. 10/17 Bodhidharma's "Emptiness"

Emperor Wu of Liang asked Great Teacher Bodhidharma, "What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?" Bodhidharma said, "Empty--there's no holy." The emperor said, " Who are you facing me?" Bodhidharma said, "Don't know." The emperor didn't understand. Bodhidharma subsequently crossed the Yangtse River, came to Shaolin, and faced a wall for nine years.

In-class activities: Zazen&massage, deep listening exercise with Prof. Spellmeyer’s "dharma talk" on Bodhidharma’s “Emptiness,” deep writing, and sharing

HW: Read the "mu" koan (Wumenguan, Guogu's translation, 34-43). Jot down your observations to bring to class for discussion.

10/24 No class (Conversion Day)