zazenhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zazen_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezazen, n.
Revised 2021

zazennoun

rare before late 19th cent.
  1. 1727–
    In Zen Buddhism: the practice of sitting meditation.
    1. 1727
      Sasen [German Sasen] is a profound meditation of divine misteries and holy things, which so entirely takes up a man's mind, that his body lies, as it were, destitute of all sense and life, unmov'd by any external object whatsoever.
      J. G. Scheuchzer, translation of E. Kæmpfer, History of Japan vol. I. iv. iv. 308
    2. 1897
      How can you think of not-thinking? That is thinking of nothing. This is the most important art of Zazen.
      Princ., Pract. & Enlightenment Soto Sect 22
    3. 1907
      Zazen is not meant to induce a trance or a state of self-hypnotization.
      Journal Pali Text Soc. 1906–7 36
    4. 1983
      He had taken to practising what he hoped was zazen in the yard.
      M. Furlong, Cousins xxi. 167
    5. 2014
      Breath counting is a standard practice in many forms of meditation and is often used in the Zen Buddhist practice of Zazen.
      J. B. Ford, Auto Process Therapy iv. 37

zazen, n. was revised in December 2021.

zazen, n. was last modified in December 2024.