Zen

The essence of Zen is the experience of no-self, or unity with Oneness wherein all duality ceases. There are various formal Zen systems and informal lay practices where individuals do “zen sitting” (sometimes known as breath-counting) in order to awaken themselves and their life to life as it is to the immediacy of this very moment or the development of insight into the whole of life becoming more aware of and transcending the “observational self” which observes the “thinking self,” the “feeling self,” and the “functioning self.” Sitting practice leads to the consciousness of “I-am-who-I-am-right-now” and that very state of being is The Buddha.

Suggested Reading:
Everyday Zen & Nothing Special—Charlotte Soko Beck
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind—Shunryu Suzaki
The Three Pillars of Zen—Roshi Philip Kapleau
The Spirit of Zen—Alan Watts