ZEN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

Zen

[ zen ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Chinese Ch'an [chahn]. 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 means of meditation and direct, intuitive insights, accepting formal studies and observances only when they form part of such means. Compare koan, mondo ¹.
the discipline and practice of this sect.
(lowercase) a state of meditative calm in which one uses direct, intuitive insights as a way of thinking and acting.

adjective

of or relating to Zen Buddhism:
Zen monasteries.
having characteristics or qualities associated with the discipline or practice of Zen Buddhism:
Fishing is a Zen hobby.
(sometimes lowercase) relaxed and calmly accepting of a situation:
I’m usually very Zen about my investments.

Zen

/ ��ɛ�� /

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

Zen

An approach to religion, arising from Buddhism , that seeks religious enlightenment by meditation in which there is no consciousness of self.

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Notes

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?”

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Derived Forms

ˈ�ܱ�Ծ��, noun
ˈ�ܱ�Ծ��, adjective

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�ܱ��i�� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Zen¹

First recorded in 1725–30; < Japanese, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Mandarin Chinese ��á�� “meditation, contemplation,” from Pali ��Բ�, from Sanskrit ��Բ�, from the verb ��پ� “he meditates” (i.e., “sees mentally”), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root (and its variants) dheiə-, dhyeə-, dhyā- “to look, see.”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Zen¹

from Japanese, from Chinese ch'an religious meditation, from Pali ��Բ�, from Sanskrit ��Բ�

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Mr Agrawal says his company, Zen Barefoot, is unusual as much of the Indian footwear industry is not very innovative.

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Other areas are raked in patterns resembling a Zen garden, and some contain replica tracks of native animals, including coyotes, bears and snakes.

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He had three films released in the same year, so I said I wanted to capture something that said, “Zen and the Art of Acting.”

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“Nobody has contacted us – nobody from the government, nobody from any group,” said Niran Ali, a 56-year-old woman whose shop, Zen Baby Fashion, had disappeared with virtually all of its stock.

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“He seemed to be very, I mean, Zen Buddhist.”

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