Japanese Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasises direct insight into one’s true nature, beyond words or scriptures. Known in Japan as “Bussin-shū” (the school of the Buddha’s mind), Zen seeks enlightenment through meditation (zazen) and the guidance of a master rather than textual study.

Zen originated in India with the Buddha, passed through a lineage of 28 Indian patriarchs, and was brought to China by Bodhidharma (Daruma). In China, it developed into the Northern and Southern Schools, with the Southern School, founded by Huineng, emphasising sudden enlightenment - the idea that the mind as it is, without removing desires or attachments, is inherently Buddha.

From China, Zen spread to Japan, where the main schools are Rinzai, Sōtō, and Ōbaku. Rinzai and Ōbaku focus on koan practice - meditative contemplation of paradoxical questions -  while Sōtō emphasises silent meditation (shikantaza). The founders of these schools in Japan include Eisai, who brought Rinzai Zen in the late 12th century; Dōgen, who established Sōtō Zen in the early 13th century; and Ingen, who introduced Ōbaku Zen in the 17th century. These figures established monasteries, teaching lineages, and practices that remain influential today.

Zen also introduced the principle of self-sufficiency in monastic life: monks work to sustain themselves, reflecting the teaching that “if you do not work, you shall not eat”. This practical approach helped Zen survive periods of persecution and became a defining feature of its monastic culture.

In short, Zen is a path of direct, lived experience, passed from teacher to student, where the ordinary mind and daily life itself are the gateway to awakening.