Zen: meaning, definitions and examples

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zen

[ zɛn ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
zen	Used as a proper noun to refer to the specific school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and intuition. Zen emphasizes the importance of meditation She practices Zen to find deeper meaning in life
Zen Buddhism	Refers to the entire religious practice and philosophy of Zen within the context of Buddhism. Zen Buddhism focuses on meditation and the nature of the mind He has been studying Zen Buddhism for several years to understand its teachings

Word

Description / Examples

zen

Used as a proper noun to refer to the specific school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and intuition.

Zen emphasizes the importance of meditation
She practices Zen to find deeper meaning in life

Zen Buddhism

Refers to the entire religious practice and philosophy of Zen within the context of Buddhism.

Zen Buddhism focuses on meditation and the nature of the mind
He has been studying Zen Buddhism for several years to understand its teachings

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 | Noun}

informal

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

Synonyms

calmness, serenity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
zen	Used often in a spiritual or philosophical context, refers to a state of being at peace and mindful. It is frequently associated with Zen Buddhism and meditation practices. She maintained her zen through daily meditation. After years of practice, he finally reached a zen-like state of mind.
calmness	Refers to a state of being free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance. It can be used in both everyday and professional settings, focusing on the absence of stress or anxiety. Her calmness in emergencies makes her an excellent nurse. He felt a sense of calmness wash over him as he listened to the ocean waves.
serenity	Describes a state of peacefulness and tranquility, often in a more poetic or romantic setting. It evokes a deeper sense of peace, usually in nature or in moments of contemplation. The serenity of the mountain landscape was breathtaking. She found serenity in the gentle rustling of the leaves.

Word

Description / Examples

zen

Used often in a spiritual or philosophical context, refers to a state of being at peace and mindful. It is frequently associated with Zen Buddhism and meditation practices.

She maintained her zen through daily meditation.
After years of practice, he finally reached a zen-like state of mind.

calmness

Refers to a state of being free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance. It can be used in both everyday and professional settings, focusing on the absence of stress or anxiety.

Her calmness in emergencies makes her an excellent nurse.
He felt a sense of calmness wash over him as he listened to the ocean waves.

serenity

Describes a state of peacefulness and tranquility, often in a more poetic or romantic setting. It evokes a deeper sense of peace, usually in nature or in moments of contemplation.

The serenity of the mountain landscape was breathtaking.
She found serenity in the gentle rustling of the leaves.

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

Etymology

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.