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Zen

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Zen¹

  • /zɛn/

Where it comes from

From Japanese 禅(ぜん) (zen), from Middle Chinese 禪 (MC dzyen), an abbreviation of 禪那 (MC dzyen na), from Sanskrit ध्यान (dhyāna, “a type of meditation”). Doublet of dhyana and Chan.

proper noun zen · Sen · Dzen

  1. A school of Mahayana Buddhism characterized by sudden enlightenment achieved by indirect means and principally associated with China and Japan. For Orientals these mysterious formulae are clear and familiar truths, but for us they are completely bewildering... Dhyana Buddhism, which is known in Japan as "Zen"... is not speculation at all but immediate experience of what, as the bottomless ground of Being, cannot be apprehended by intellectu

noun zen · Sen · Dzen

  1. uncountable Alternative letter-case form of zen: (religion) enlightenment and (informal) mindful action, instruction, or behavior considered similar to Zen.zen Hōyen... used to produce his own hand and ask his disciples, why it was called a hand? When we know the reason, there is satori and we have Zen.

adjective more Zen · most Zen · zen · Sen · Dzen

  1. Of or related to Zen Buddhism. Zen meditation
  2. colloquial Alternative letter-case form of zen.zen "It sounds very Zen," I said. "A log cabin with no logs."

zen²

  • /ˈzɛn/

Rhymes with -ɛn

Where it comes from

From Zen. In more general use, popularized by Eugen Herrigel's 1948 Zen in the Art of Archery and Robert M. Pirsig's 1974 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

noun Zen

  1. uncountable Synonym of enlightenment, particularly the kind acquired through Zen meditation.
  2. uncountable An approach to instruction, understanding, or an activity similarly emphasizing simplicity and intuition rather than conventional thinking or fixation on goals. the zen of cooking

adjective more zen · most zen · Zen

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Zen: of or related to Zen Buddhism, particularly its focus on indirect teaching of wisdom through riddles and stories.Zen Greggs: You hung over? Just sayin', you look like shit. Moreland: You know what you need at a crime scene? Greggs: Rubber glove? Moreland: Soft eyes. Greggs: Like I'm s'posed to cry an' shit? Moreland: You got soft eyes, you can see the whole thing. You got hard eyes? You starin' at the same tree, m
  2. colloquial Wise, displaying enlightenment or similar wisdom, insightful, unburdened and free of worries, extremely relaxed and capable.

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