Zen: meaning, definitions and examples

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zen

[ zɛn ]

^{Context #1}

philosophy

A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition rather than ritual worship or study of scripture.

Synonyms

Zen Buddhism

Examples of usage

Many people find peace and enlightenment through practicing Zen meditation.
The Zen philosophy teaches the importance of living in the present moment.

^{Context #2}

informal

A state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.

Synonyms

calmness, serenity

Examples of usage

She approached the task with the Zen of a true master.
His mind was filled with Zen as he painted the beautiful landscape.

Translations

Translations of the word "zen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 zen

🇮🇳 ज़ेन

🇩🇪 Zen

🇮🇩 zen

🇺🇦 дзен

🇵🇱 zen

🇯🇵 禅 (ぜん)

🇫🇷 zen

🇪🇸 zen

🇹🇷 zen

🇰🇷 선 (선불교)

🇸🇦 زن

🇨🇿 zen

🇸🇰 zen

🇨🇳 禅 (chán)

🇸🇮 zen

🇮🇸 zen

🇰🇿 дзен

🇬🇪 ზენი

🇦🇿 zen

🇲🇽 zen

Word origin

The word 'Zen' is derived from the Chinese word 'Chán', which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word 'dhyāna', meaning 'meditation'. Zen Buddhism originated in China during the Tang dynasty and later spread to Japan, where it became known as Zen. The practice of Zen emphasizes the experience of enlightenment through meditation and the direct transmission of wisdom from teacher to student.