Zen
[ zen ]
/ zɛn /
noun
Chinese Ch'an. Buddhism.
a Mahayana movement, introduced into China in the 6th century a.d. and into Japan in the 12th century, that emphasizes enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means, accepting formal studies and observances only when they form part of such means.
Compare koan, mondo1.
the discipline and practice of this sect.
Also called
Zen Buddhism.
Origin of Zen
< Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese
chán, transliteration of Pali
jhāna < Sanskrit
dhyāna
OTHER WORDS FROM Zen
Zen·ic, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for zen
British Dictionary definitions for zen
Zen
/ (zɛn) Buddhism /
noun
a Japanese school, of 12th-century Chinese origin, teaching that contemplation of one's essential nature to the exclusion of all else is the only way of achieving pure enlightenment
(modifier)
of or relating to this school
Zen Buddhism
Derived forms of Zen
Zenic, adjective Zenist, nounWord Origin for Zen
from Japanese, from Chinese
ch'an religious meditation, from Pali
jhāna, from Sanskrit
dhyāna
Cultural definitions for zen
Zen
An approach to religion, arising from Buddhism, that seeks religious enlightenment by meditation in which there is no consciousness of self.
notes for Zen
Deliberately irrational statements are sometimes used in Zen to jar persons into realizing the limits of the common uses of the intellect. One well-known example is, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”