Sōtō Shū

Sōtō Shū is one of the major schools of Zen Buddhism in Japan, emphasizing the practice of zazen (seated meditation) as the primary path to enlightenment. Founded in the 13th century by Dōgen Zenji, it advocates for "just sitting" without attaching to specific outcomes or rituals. Sōtō focuses on integrating mindfulness into everyday life and views enlightenment as an ongoing, living experience rather than a distant goal. Its teachings promote simplicity, humility, and compassionate action, making meditation accessible and relevant to practitioners in daily life.