“Zen is not effort. Effort is tension, effort is work, effort is to achieve something. Zen is not something to achieve. Just relax, relax so deeply that you become a revelation to yourself.” – Zen proverb “Zen” is the Japanese pronunciation of Chinese chán, meaning “meditation”.

Rather than representing a particular ethic or set of beliefs, Zen Buddhism – as practiced in Japan since the 12th century – is a discipline that seeks to reveal profound insight into the nature of things through thought, experience and meditation, passing on wisdom from master to disciple, rather than through reliance on formal doctrine and ideas.

Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, the practice of meditation, and perceiving the true nature of reality through mindfulness.

This insight can be expressed in daily life through acts of kindness towards others. Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding, Zen Wisdom offers more than 80 succinct quotes from Zen masters such as Bankei Yōtaku, Matsuo Bashō, and the Buddha, on topics as wide-ranging as discovering purpose, maintaining concentration, mindfulness, tranquility, learning, kindness and finding joy.