In the one hundred years since Zen Buddhism was introduced to the West, many of its traditions have become a part of our culture. When I tell people that I study Zen, they often tell me about their familiarity with Zen arts such as haiku poetry, martial arts, or flower arranging. At the same time, many people also learn about Buddhism by experiencing meditation. Yet despite the growing popularity of Zen arts and practices, the ancient religious beliefs that formed them remain largely unfamiliar to those in the West. In the Western vocabulary, the word zen has taken on a broad rray of meanings. The philosophy of Zen is often recast to Westerners as a freedom from social norms and ordinary religious restrictions. It may be suggested, for example, that Zen practitioners do not need to concern themselves with good and bad behavior because they have risen above distinctions such as right and wrong. In East Asia, the impression of Zen could not be more different. Zen Buddhism is regarded as a religion of strict religious practice because there it is concentrated in monasteries where monks and nuns live their lives guided by a special code of conduct. This understanding of Zen is based on its tradition of scholarship and religious discipline