Zen

Zen (Japanese pronunciation: [dzeꜜɴ, dzeɴ]; from Chinese: Chán; in Korean: Sŏn, and Vietnamese: Thiền) is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka philosophies, with Chinese Taoist thought, especially Neo-Daoist. Zen originated as the Chan school (禪宗, chánzōng, ‘meditation school’) or the Buddha-mind school (佛心宗, fóxīnzōng), and later developed into various sub-schools and branches.

Chan is traditionally believed to have been brought to China by the semi-legendary figure Bodhidharma, an Indian (or Central Asian) monk who is said to have introduced dhyana teachings to China. From China, Chán spread south to Vietnam and became Vietnamese Thiền, northeast to Korea to become Seon Buddhism, and east to Japan, becoming Japanese Zen.

Zen emphasizes meditation practice, direct insight into one’s own Buddha nature (見性, Ch. jiànxìng, Jp. kenshō), and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others. Some Zen sources de-emphasize doctrinal study and traditional practices, favoring direct understanding through zazen and interaction with a master (Jp: rōshi, Ch: shīfu) who may be depicted as an iconoclastic and unconventional figure. In spite of this, most Zen schools also promote traditional Buddhist practices like chanting, precepts, walking meditation, rituals, monasticism and scriptural study.

With an emphasis on Buddha-nature thought, intrinsic enlightenment and sudden awakening, Zen teaching draws from numerous Buddhist sources, including Sarvāstivāda meditation, the Mahayana teachings on the bodhisattva, Yogachara and Tathāgatagarbha texts (like the Laṅkāvatāra), and the Huayan school. The Prajñāpāramitā literature, as well as Madhyamaka thought, have also been influential in the shaping of the apophatic and sometimes iconoclastic nature of Zen rhetoric.

wikipedia/en/Zen

Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China and emphasizes meditation (𝑧𝑎−𝑧𝑒𝑛) as a path to enlightenment through direct, personal experience. It teaches that enlightenment is not a distant goal but a realization of one’s own inherent Buddha nature, which can be achieved through mindful practice, often using techniques like koans (paradoxical riddles) to break down conventional thinking. The practice focuses on a deep understanding of one’s mind and reality through non-theoretical, experiential means, often expressed through art forms like calligraphy and ink painting.

• Meditation: The practice is centered on seated meditation, known as za-zen, to achieve a state of mindful awareness and concentration. 
• Direct experience: Zen prioritizes direct personal experience over intellectual understanding of scriptures or doctrines. 
• Koans: Masters use paradoxical questions or riddles, such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”, to shock students into a state of non-logical insight. 
• Buddha-nature: Zen teaches that all beings possess an innate, inherent Buddha nature and that enlightenment is the process of realizing this truth. 
• Mindfulness in daily life: The principles of Zen are meant to permeate all aspects of life, not just formal meditation practice. 

History and spread

• Origins: Zen traces its origins to the Buddha’s wordless transmission of wisdom, formalized in China as Chan Buddhism. 
• Chinese development: It was formalized in China, blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism with Chinese Taoist philosophy. 
• Spread to Japan: Chan was transmitted to Japan in the 13th century, where it became highly influential, especially among the samurai class, and developed distinct schools like [Sōtō] and [Rinzai]. 
• Global reach: In modern times, Japanese Zen figures like [Daisetz T. Suzuki] were instrumental in spreading Zen teachings to the rest of the world.