Zen: An Introduction

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updated 12 Jul 2023

Zen is a form of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and originated in China through the interaction of Buddhism and Taoism. It focuses on realizing the true nature of reality by deconstructing the sense of a separate self through meditation, leading to enlightenment and a deep sense of intimacy with all things.

Zen is a form of Buddhism that developed in China through the interaction of Buddhism and Taoism.
The word Zen is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character Chan, which means meditation.
Zen emphasizes meditation and thrived in China during the Tang and Song dynasties.
It spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and became popular outside Asia in the 1960s and 1970s.
Zen teachings do not focus on God, sin, creation, karma, rebirth, or the afterlife.
Zen is not concerned with rites, rituals, or the distinction between the sacred and profane.
Zen can be seen as a philosophy but emphasizes that philosophy is not the way to realize the true nature of reality.
Zen practice involves meditation, which allows for a non-conceptual and direct experience of the world.
Some aspects of Zen practice are similar to psychotherapy, but the goal is not just psychological adjustment but enlightenment.
Zen is not mystical in the sense of transcending this reality but aims to realize the true nature of reality here and now.
Zen is the art of seeing into one's own being, leading from bondage to freedom.
Zen practice involves studying oneself, forgetting oneself, and realizing one's intimacy with all things.
The sense of a separate self is a delusion, and meditation helps deconstruct this constructed sense of self.
Enlightenment is not caused by meditation but can happen as an accident, and meditation makes one accident-prone.
When the accident of enlightenment happens, the sense of separation between self and world disappears, and intimacy with all things is realized.
Wisdom and love (or compassion) are the two pillars of the Buddhist path according to Zen.