Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China as Chan Buddhism (influenced by Taoist philosophy) and later spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Zen emphasizes the practice of seated meditation (zazen), direct insight into one's true nature, and the transmission of wisdom from master to student beyond reliance on scriptures.

Zen is known for its use of koans (paradoxical riddles designed to provoke enlightenment), the cultivation of mindfulness in everyday activities, and the aesthetic principles that have shaped Japanese art, architecture, garden design, and the tea ceremony. The tradition holds that enlightenment (satori or kensho) is possible in this very life through diligent practice.

Key Zen texts include the essays of D.T. Suzuki, who was instrumental in bringing Zen to the West, and works like "The Religion of the Samurai" which explores Zen's influence on Japanese warrior culture and philosophy.