Possibly the most essential of all Buddhist practices, Zen focuses on the ultimate simplicity of the Buddha mind. Allen Watts writes that "Thus is Zen is to be translated at all, the nearest equivalent is 'Enlightenment', but even so Zen is not only Enlightenment; but the path to its attainment. (Watts, 24) Zen is a religion without a doctrine, a theology without theologians.

Zen stresses the prime importance of the enlightenment experience and the uselessness of ritual. This process stresses the spiritual analysis of doctrine and theology, not the analytical or expressly theological. Zen Buddhism, which is most commonly practiced in Japan, is the basic practice of meditation in order to reach peace within one's self. Zen is not a belief system ridden by dogma and philosophical intricacies but a belief etched by practice.

Zen is more often a monastic practice than one that has a strong ethic of public activism. it is the difference between debate and action, between diatribes about philosophy and turning within one's self and finding the answers that already lie there. Allan Watts writes in The Spirit of Zen that "Enlightenment, however, is living and cannot be fixed down into any form of words; therefore the object of the Zen school of Buddhism is to go beyond words and ideas in order that the original insight of the Buddha may be brought back to life." (p22) Watts continues that " It never makes the mistake of confusing teachings with wisdom, for essentially, Zen is that "something" which makes the difference between a Buddha and an ordinary man; it is Enlightenment as distinct from doctrine" (p22)

In Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh has written many books as guides for Western Buddhists attempting to practice Zen philosophy. His emphasis of ordinary practice as meditation encapsulates an essential ideal of Zen practice, action instead of dogma. Nhat Hanh maintains that "The most precious practice in Buddhism is meditation, and it is important to practice meditation in a joyful mood. We have to smile a lot in order to be able to meditate, the Bell of Mindfulness helps us do this(106).One of the poems he includes in his book Being Peace discusses the sound of breathing.