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Zen Buddhism
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Zen Buddhism, in the last analysis, is not so much a religion as it is a pointing to the religious life itself. It is not concerned to defend a point of view or to propagate a set of beliefs about the absolute basis of life, but rather to lay hold on that absolute life itself. Its method is not to supply the mind with formal truths; it seeks only to help each person arrive at the existential discovery of his own true Self and ... to have him pass from the inauthentic life of formal posturing to the life of truth or the creative life. Zen is not an ideology but an ultimate therapy through which man comes into the possession of what is truly his own and attains spiritual freedom.
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Zen Buddhism is a meditative practice which is designed to increase self-awareness and compassion. It is not a religion as such, with a set of beliefs and dogmas to be accepted, but rather a way of approaching life and a way of experiencing life, together with a set of practices to help the individual achieve an enlightened (nirvana) state. A Zen meditation is a
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Within Zen, and ... from an emic perspective, the origins of Zen Buddhism are ascribed to what is called the Flower Sermon, in which Śākyamuni Buddha is supposed to have passed on special insight to the disciple Mahākāśyapa. The sermon itself was a wordless one in which Śākyamuni merely held up a flower before the assembled disciples, among whom there was no reaction apart from Mahākāśyapa, who smiled. The smile is said to have signified Mahākāśyapa's understanding, and Śākyamuni acknowledged this by saying:
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According to Zen Buddhism, it is possible for a person to attain enlightenment in this life through the practice of meditation and development of mental and spiritual discipline. Zen was originally developed in China but it was later stressed by Japanese Buddhists such as Eisai and Dogan. Zen simply means "meditation" and is the Japenese equivalent of the original Sanskrit term dhyana.
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Zen Buddhism is influenced by Mahayana teachings of Buddhism to a great extent. The teachings and the philosophy of Zen Buddhism are ... intricately attached to the erstwhile Buddhism. Various Sutras of Mahayana composed in China and India are an important part of Zen teachings especially Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Lankavatara sutra, Samantamukha Parivarta, a chapter of Lotus sutra and the platform sutra of Huineng. The recorded teachings of the masters of various Zen traditions are also a part of the Zen philosophy.
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![Portrait sculpture of a Zen priest [Japan]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/z/e/n/zen-buddhism/i/002.jpg)
The essential element of Zen Buddhism is found in its name, for Zen means "meditation." Zen teaches that enlightenment is achieved through the profound realization that one is already an enlightened being. This awakening can happen gradually or in a flash of insight (as emphasized by the Soto and Rinzai schools, respectively). But in either case, it is the result of one's own efforts. Deities and scriptures can offer only limited assistance.
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Zen Buddhism