"What Is Zen?"

Zen is a form of meditation and philosophy that emphasizes living fully in the present moment through direct experience, often through practices like sitting meditation (zazen). It originated in Japan from Chinese Chan Buddhism and focuses on simplicity, mindfulness, and intuition rather than intellectual understanding. Zen encourages letting go of attachment to thoughts, labels, and materialism to realize one’s true nature and achieve inner peace. It’s not about the absence of thought but about observing thoughts without attachment, cultivating awareness, and finding clarity and calm in everyday life.