Meaning and Zen

Life is the crucible in which material events achieve meaning.

Devoid of life, the Universe (while seething with events and eventualities) is devoid of meaning.

The central purpose of the exercises which comprise the mind set known as Buddhism is to uncover and to cultivate that prehuman core of immediate experience which is the foundation of life anywhere in the universe.

And then to live from that place fully aware.


This is the meaning of Zen.

Mindfulness and Enlightenment and Zen

An ancient master once remarked "Meditation is the brick with which we knock at the door"


It is encouraging to find "mindfulness" catching on, and the practice of "mindfulness" will have immediate benefits in the life of anyone who takes it up. That said it must be remarked that in Zen, meditation is the exercise that prepares the mind for the transformation of being that is known as Enlightenment.



The signature characteristic of the unenlightened is that their primary identity is still as Human.