You want to know what Zen is?
It's not what you think it is.
Let me share my own understanding.
It can't be expressed in words.
Yet I must use words to express it right now.
Zen, translated, means meditation. But that's not what it is.
Zen is finding out (using meditation, koan, or other means) who you are, here, now.
You don't have to go anywhere to find it.
You don't have to practice anything.
You don't even have to try to be it.
It's who you are.
Right here.
Right now.
It's not the word Zen.
It's not your concept of Zen.
It's not about religion.
Or history.
It's not about Japan.
Or China.
Or India.
Or religion.
If you stop, for even just a moment, you will see it, know it, directly.
Once seen, it cannot be unseen.
Once known, it cannot be unknown.
It can't be learnt, and it can't be taught.
It's not a transmission.
Yet a transmission may be experienced.
It's not that transmission.
If you leave aside every thought, concept, feeling, emotion, sensation, memory, experience, for just a moment.
If you leave aside past and future.
If, for just a moment, you leave aside even the concept of now, even of moment.
If you leave aside any concept of enlightenment, attainment, or result.
If you leave aside all concepts of I, me, my, mine, and even of self.
If you look without eyes.
If you hear without ears.
You will see.
You will know.
Directly.
Once and for all.
Irreversibly.
Who you are.
Are you doing it now?
Are you looking?
Where are you?
Who are you?
It's not about melting, disappearing, or dying.
It's simply about realising, who you eternally are, now.
Naked.
Unclothed of any belief, concept, or other idea you have of yourself.
Undressed of who you were.
Undressed of who you could be.
Undressed of who you would be.
Undressed of who you are now.
Naked of concepts.
Undefined.
Unborn.
You belong nowhere, yet you are everywhere.
You belong to nothing, yet you can be found in all things.
Such is the paradox of life.
You are life.
Simple.
Naked.
Unadorned.
Life.
What's left to do?
Know yourself.
Even this knowing is not needed. Because you already are yourself.
You cannot not be.
Zen is the Truth of who you are.
Find out now.
The best question to ask, is not “What is Zen?”
It is to ask “Who (or what) am I?”
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This is self-inquiry. If you want to know more, get in touch for coaching or mentoring.