Chan Buddhism (Zen)

Chan Buddhism, also known as Zen, is a tradition emphasizing direct experience and meditation to realize one’s true nature beyond words and concepts. Originating in China, it encourages practitioners to find enlightenment through mindful awareness and intuitive insight, often using seated meditation (zazen) and everyday activities as practice. Zen seeks to transcend intellectual understanding by fostering a state of pure presence, emphasizing simplicity, discipline, and direct realization. Its teachings often highlight that enlightenment is accessible here and now, not something distant or achievable through ritual alone.