Zen is a school of Buddhism which emphasises the practice of meditation as the key ingredient to awakening ones inner nature, compassion and wisdom. The practice of meditation (Zen in Japanese) as a means of attaining enlightenment was introduced, as we have seen, by the Buddha himself.

A little history of Zen Buddhism After it had been established in India for almost 1000 years, the monk Bodhidharma took the teaching to China, in the 5th century CE, under the name of ch'an, where it spread widely throughout the country, having found there a favorable ground for its growth.

Dōgen (born Jan. 19, 1200, Kyōto, Japan—died Sept. 22, 1253, Kyōto) was a leading Japanese Buddhist during the Kamakura period (1192–1333), who introduced Zen to Japan in the form of the Sōtō school (Chinese: Ts'ao-tung).

The essence of Zen is attempting to understand the meaning of life directly, without being misled by logical thought or language. Zen techniques are compatible with other faiths and are often used, for example, by Christians seeking a mystical understanding of their faith.