Zen emphasizes direct experience over intellectual understanding from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
In the practice of Zen, there is a notable emphasis on direct experience as opposed to intellectual understanding. This key concept is central to the teachings of Zen Buddhism, as it is believed that true enlightenment can only be achieved through direct personal experience rather than through intellectual grasping or conceptualization. The Zen masters often speak of "seeing into one's own nature" or "experiencing one's original face," emphasizing the importance of direct insight and immediate realization. This emphasis on direct experience can be traced back to the historical origins of Zen in the teachings of the Buddha himself. The Buddha famously declared that his teachings were a "finger pointing to the moon," meaning that they were meant to be a guide to direct experience rather than an end in themselves. This idea was further developed in the Zen tradition, where the use of koans, meditation, and other practices are all aimed at helping the practitioner to directly experience the nature of reality without relying on abstract conc...
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