What is Zen?

“Zen Master Seung Sahn said there are two central questions for every human being.

Number one: What are you doing right now?

Number two: Why do that?

These two questions point to how we live our life, moment to moment, and our great vow.”

By Zen Master Dae Kwang

In the quote above, these two questions essentially ask the great question of “What am I?” This question helps to keep our mind clear. We call this our ‘inside work’.

But there are two kinds of work: Inside work and outside work. Inside work is keeping a clear mind. Outside work is cutting off selfish desires and helping others. This is Zen.

Being concerned only about inside work is not correct Zen practice. Focusing only on inside work means trying to find peace of mind only for me.

Including outside work into our individual practice means living with a direction for others and not only for myself. How can we help others? What can each one of us do that is of service? This is also sometimes referred to as the Bodhisattva Way.

Emphasis is on doing, not describing

Helping others in a mindful and compassionate way is Zen put into practice. And the written word is de-emphasized in all schools or styles of Zen. As indicated by an old masters' teachings: ‘Not relying on words, (Zen is) a transmission outside the sutras’.

So Zen does not rely upon words and letters. However, it does not mean that words and letters should be discarded—it means simply that Zen is not restrained by them.

If one does try to describe it, the description is only something secondary, and cannot be the ultimate primary meaning. Why? Because True Form is beyond words.