The goal of Zen is to attain a state of pure awareness from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
Zen is often misunderstood as being merely a form of meditation or a philosophical belief system. However, at its core, Zen is about achieving a state of pure awareness, a state of being fully present in the moment without any distractions or attachments. This state of pure awareness is not something to be attained through effort or striving; rather, it is the natural state of being that is obscured by the clutter of our minds. The goal of Zen is not to achieve some grand enlightenment or to become a superior being, but simply to return to our true nature, which is pure awareness. This pure awareness is like a mirror that reflects the world without any distortions or judgments. In this state, we are able to see things as they truly are, without the interference of our thoughts and emotions. To attain this state of pure awareness, one must let go of all attachments and desires, as these are the things that cloud our minds and prevent us from seeing reality as it is. This process of letting go is not a forced effort, but a natural unfolding that happens when we simply let things be as they are without trying to change or control them. In Zen, there is a strong emphasis on direct experience rather than intellectual understanding. This is why many Zen teachings are filled with paradoxes and nonsensical statements – they are meant to jolt us out of our habitual ways of thinking and to point us towards a direct experience of reality.- The goal of Zen is not something to be achieved in the future, but something that can be realized in this very moment. It is a state of being that is always available to us, if only we can let go of our attachments and return to our true nature of pure awareness.
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