Dictionary
Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (Suzuki Daisetsu, 鈴木大拙, 1870 - 1966) was a famous author of books and essays on Buddhism and Zen that were instrumental in spreading interest in Zen to the West.
Dokusan 独参 A private interview between a Zen student and his master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his practice and to demonstrate his understanding.
Inka, Dharma Transmission 傳法 is the act of passing the Zen or Chan Buddhist doctrine from a master to student. This one-to-one transmission is said to be traced over 2,500 years back to Gautama Buddha. The Inka ceremony is the recognition that a student has achieved awakening; realized his or her true Buddha Nature. Since an awakened Buddha realizes the connectedness inherent in all things, it is not "giving" something from the teacher to the student. Instead, it is a recognition that the student has cast off delusion.
Kessei or Ango 安居 Intense training period of ca 100 days in a zen buddhist monastery. Original meaning is "rainy season", where Buddha and his diciples were stationary in monasteries or caves.
Koan 公案 A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition.
Rinzai 臨済濟宗 The Rinzai school is known for its emphasis on sudden enlightenment and years of practice using the koan method to achieve this end. Rinzai is the Japanese branch of the Chinese Linji school, which was founded during the Tang Dynasty by Linji Yixuan 臨済義玄 (D. 668).
Sesshin 攝心 a period, 2,5 or 7 days, with intensive zazen. During a sesshin students devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice, normally from four thirty in the morning until ten or later at night. The master will give a public talks (teisho) once a day and offers individual guidance in private meetings (called dokusan or sanzen).
Sõen Nakagawa 宋淵中川 (宋淵玄珠禪師) (1907 - 1984) was a Japanese teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Rinzai tradition. A highly creative and enigmatic figure, he was abbot of Ryutaku-ji monastery, an accomplished poet, and was a notable influence on the transmission of Zen to America.
Teisho 提唱 A presentation by a Zen master during a sesshin. Rather than an explanation or exposition in the traditional sense, it is intended as a demonstration of Zen realisation.
Zazen 坐禅 is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. Once the mind is able to not be hindered by its many layers, one will then be able to realize one's true Buddha nature. In Zen Buddhism, zazen (Japanese: literally "seated meditation") is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment. In other words: Zazen is the foundation of a rational and natural inquiry into the nature of reality.
The initial stages of training in zazen will usually emphasize concentration. By focusing on the breath at the abdomen, often aided by counting, one builds up the power of concentration. Having developed the power of concentration, the practitioner can now focus his or her attention on a koan as an object of meditation. Since koans are not solvable by the intellectual reasoning, koan introspection is designed to shortcut the intellectual process leading to direct realization.
For further information see Wikipedia and Zen Virtual Library