Zen or Dhyana

The word Zen is very much a westernised word that originated in China as part of Mahayana Buddhism. It is derived partly from the Japanese word Kana but closer to the Chinese word – dzjen or Chan.  But in reality it is a version of Sanskrit word Dhyana. Sanskrit is native to India and is to Indians what Latin is to the Europeans. The word Dhyana is common to most Indian languages and has almost the same meaning. Dhyan is attention in Hindi. The same word is also Dhyana. Zen refers to meditation. And to bring the mind to dwell upon life.  Dhyana means the same thing. Meditation.

(From Wikipedia) The practice of Buddhist meditation first entered China through the translations of An Shigao (fl. c. 148–180 CE), and Kumārajīva (334–413 CE), who both translated Dhyāna sutras, which were influential early meditation texts mostly based on the Yogacara (yoga praxis) teachings of the Kashmiri Sarvāstivāda circa 1st–4th centuries CE.[15] Among the most influential early Chinese meditation texts include the Anban Shouyi Jing (安般守意經, Sutra on ānāpānasmṛti), the Zuochan Sanmei Jing (坐禪三昧經，Sutra of sitting dhyāna samādhi) and the Damoduoluo Chan Jing (達摩多羅禪經[16]， Dharmatrata dhyāna sutra).[17] These early Chinese meditation works continued to exert influence on Zen practice well into the modern era. For example, the 18th century Rinzai Zen master Tōrei Enji wrote a commentary on the Damoduoluo Chan Jing and used the Zuochan Sanmei Jing as source in the writing of this commentary. Tōrei believed that the Damoduoluo Chan Jing had been authored by Bodhidharma. (Wikipedia).

Meditation has been the cornerstone of all religions. And Buddhism leads in this.

Modern day Zen is about restraint, meditation, reflection on nature of mind and the ways one can improve through spiritual practice. That literally makes it one of the most profound thoughts in the world.

This is what is required by all to find sense in this world. Dhyana or Zen (or as I like to put it Reflection) is the key to all human behaviour.

When in doubt, reflect. (think!)