Soto Zen was traditionally called the practice of "silent illumination." This tasted like a pejorative in the mouths of Rinzai proponents, and perhaps followers of other sects, who must have seen themselves as competitive with Soto advocates. Soto folks would return the favor by criticizing Rinzai as kanna, or word Zen. Meaning that it was caught up, or bogged down, in mind games. Seeking to force enlightenment by sheer effort of will.

During a series of interfaith meditation sessions we hosted in Atlanta over the last few years, the main progenitor and visionary of the project, a retired seminarian from the Columbia Theological Seminary, spoke of meditation as "entering into silence," and asked us to help himself and his followers to understand how it is done. The various representatives from Christianity, Judaism, Islam and others who attended, would sit in silent meditation for a half hour or so, with minimal instruction from us as to posture, breath, and attention. Then one designee would tell her or his story of faith. Very interesting.

ELUSIVE / DELUSIVE SILENCE
But this idea of silence in Zen is a misconception. Or may be misconstrued as a goal, or presumed requirement, of meditation.