Zen teachings are transmitted through direct experience rather than scripture from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
Zen teachings are not based on the authority of sacred scriptures or the words of great teachers. Instead, they are transmitted through direct experience. This is in stark contrast to many other religions and philosophies, which rely heavily on written texts and the interpretations of scholars. In Zen, the emphasis is on personal realization and insight, rather than on blindly following dogma or doctrine. The idea of direct experience is central to Zen practice. Zen masters often use unconventional methods to shock their students out of their habitual ways of thinking and induce moments of sudden insight. These experiences are not something that can be conveyed through words or concepts; they must be directly experienced to be understood. In this way, Zen teachings are said to be "transmitted mind to mind," from teacher to...
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