The ultimate goal of Zen is to experience liberation from suffering from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
The ultimate aim of Zen is not merely to gain insight into the true nature of reality, but to go beyond all concepts and experiences in order to achieve liberation from suffering. This liberation is not a matter of escaping from the world or denying the existence of pain and difficulty, but rather of seeing through the illusions that create suffering in the first place. Zen teaches that suffering arises from our attachment to our desires and our mistaken belief in the permanence of the self. By letting go of these attachments and recognizing the impermanent and interconnected nature of all things, one can transcend suffering and experience a profound sense of freedom and peace. This liberation is not something to be achieved through effort or striving, but rather through a deep understanding of the way things are. It is not a matter of gaining something new, but of letting go of all that is false and unnecessary. In this way, Zen is not a path to be followed or a goal to be reached, but a way of being in the world that is characterized by clarity, compassion, and wisdom. The practice of Zen involves various methods such as meditation, koans, and mindfulness, all of which are designed to help the practitioner see through the illusions of the ego and experience the true nature of reality. Through these practices, one can come to a direct realization of the interconnectedness of all things and the emptiness of the self, which leads to a profound sense of liberation from suffering.- The goal of Zen is not to escape from the world or to transcend the human condition, but to fully engage with life as it is, free from the constraints of the ego and the suffering it creates. In this way, Zen offers a path to liberation that is both profound and practical, inviting us to awaken to the beauty and wonder of the present moment.
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