The Influence of Zen Buddhism on People’s Way of Life and Consciousness

Abstract

This article aims to examine the distinctive characteristics of Zen Buddhist principles and analyze their influence on the way of life within Japanese cultural contexts, particularly in the realms of art, spirituality, and social behavior. It reflects how the teachings of Buddhism have adapted within the context of globalization not merely as a system of philosophical doctrines, but as a “way of life” that shapes thought and daily practice in harmony with nature and inner peace.
Zen Buddhism stands apart from traditional Buddhist schools by emphasizing direct experiential realization of the “original mind.” It avoids reliance on scriptures and logic, and instead discourages the use of language in the transmission of truth. Zen maintains that enlightenment or satori can arise in everyday life when the mind is mindful, awakened, and free from attachment to form or concept. Culturally, the article reveals that Zen thought has deeply permeated multiple dimensions of Japanese life, including: 1.The Way of Tea (Cha-dō), which embodies the values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility; 2.The Way of the Samurai (Bushidō), which integrates Zen to cultivate courage, inner calm, and self-awareness in the warrior ethos; 3.Haiku Poetry, which uses a minimalist poetic form to express emotions and moments of serene insight grounded in Zen sensibility; and 4.Zen Gardens, which represent a contemplative consciousness that merges with nature and offer a path to mental discipline through aesthetic simplicity.