The Profound Impact of Zen Buddhism: Meditation and Wisdom

Ahhh... that is the question. You have to practice to find out. If you can find a good teacher that’s even better. But it’s only through actually sitting every day if possible that you will discover how it affects your life.

Understanding Zen Buddhism

Just simply by practicing zazen may not have a very profound impact on your life. Za Zen, literally meaning Sitting Meditation, helps us to have clarity of our own mind, cutting through the noises that hinder us from thinking clearly. Of course, there will definitely be an effect on the way we approach life, and as a result of having a calm and clear mind, things around us might appear not as rough, or we might not get too agitated over things we used to hate.

Zen Buddhism Practices and Their Benefits

In Buddhist practices, meditation or the achievement of Jhana and Buddhist Wisdom (Bodhi) are equally important. Wisdom needs to be acquired or more accurately, filtered and rid of attachments, greed, hatred, and illusions via our learning of the doctrines of Dharma, i.e., how the world and all things really work. Applying such doctrines to our encounters in life helps us in approaching and perceiving the world around us accurately.

Meditation helps in sharpening our understanding of how our own mind works through enhanced clarity and calmness. Without it, we are likely to be hijacked by our habitual thinking and behaviors. Wisdom guides us in the way we approach and perceive the world around us without which we would be misled by our greed, hatred, and illusions. With these two combined, our lives would change profoundly.

Practical Goals in Zen Buddhism

The plan is for you to become less selfish and less fearful, more kind and compassionate, more willing and able to keep the Buddhist Precepts, and teach those around you to do the same. Of course, that depends on whether that is your aim or whether you might choose to pervert meditation for selfish purposes. The most extreme case is that of the Buddha’s cousin, Devadatta, who attempted to murder the Buddha.

Conclusion

The practice of Zen Buddhism involves a deep dive into both meditation and wisdom. By pursuing a daily meditation practice and studying Dharma teachings, one can achieve a clearer and calmer mind, leading to more profound changes in one's life. The ultimate goal in Zen Buddhism is to lead a life guided by compassion, wisdom, and a sense of profound understanding of the nature of reality.