What is Zen?

>>1393190
The lack of disturbance.

>>1393190
the bastard synthesis of daoism and shintoism

The sound of a fart when you're sleeping.

I do not know, your Majesty.

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No really, I've heard the phrases "Zen" and "Zen Buddhism" thrown around alot but I have no real idea of what it's actually referring to.

Is it a religious belief? A philosophical principle? What is it getting at?

>>1393369
>>1393530
Care to elaborate?
>"The lack of disturbance"
I have a vague sense of where you're going with this but I would love to get some more elaboration.
>the bastard synthesis of daoism and shintoism
I have a basic understanding of daoism, but not shintoism. How does daoism and shintoism combine and lead to zen?
Also, sort of a minor note, but what is the significance of these so-called zen gardens? Im not bashing them, I'm genuinely curious. If they have a relation to the broader notion of zen then maybe explaining the symbolism behind these rock gardens can help clarify things.

Meme Buddhist sect. One among many and not even the largest.

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It's a really shitty and really Japanese sect of Buddhism. If you know the basics of Buddhism, it's pretty much the same philosophically with some Japanese flavor thrown in there.

How it's different is the way in which you go about achieving nirvana.
You achieve nirvana by being able to undergo physical pain without giving a shit.
For example, monks in training will have to meditate in really uncomfortable positions and if they start shaking or if they shift positions, the monk in charge hits them with a stick.
At a typical Zen service, you go through some meditation and then listen to a monk prattle on about philosophy for a really long time all while sitting in a supper uncomfortable position.By the end, it hurts to walk.
At first, you'll sit in a lotus or half-lotus position with you butt up on a firm pillow and your knees on the ground. It's very uncomfortable.
At a more advanced level (pic related), you'll sit on this raised, slanted board with your knees on the floor and your feet under the board. It's even more uncomfortable.
When people say that they feel "Zen" (at peace) they have no idea what the fuck they're talking about. Zen sucks.

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>>1394221
Zazen is not all of zen. Zen is Japanese for Jhana, Buddhist meditation, and typically it is used to mean thoughtless attention.