dhyana

(also: Ch'an; Son; Zen) Dhyana is the Sanskrit term for meditation practice, which became known in China as Chan and in Japan as Zen. It consists of disciplines of sitting, breathing, and mental concentration which enable the mind to develop insight into its real nature. Chan and Zen also designate the particular school of Buddhism which emphasizes this form of practice. The two principle sub-traditions within Chan/Zen are Rinzai (which emphasizes koan study) and Soto (for which “just sitting” is the main form of practice).