Why do you think Zen was particularly attractive for Japan's warlords and its samurai warrior class?

Hey there,

Who doesn't want to experience life to the fullest? Who doesn't want to enjoy each raindrop and each ray of sunlight? Who wouldn't like to taste each flavor on their tongue? Who do you know that can swear on their life that they don't wish to enjoy each passing moment?

Zen is just another pursuit of happiness, but in one's own state of mind. It's an individual journey that any of us can start and finish. Though there does not exist an exact path to achieve it, the ideals of being Zen or living in a Zen state of mind has deeply influenced the Japanese for centuries.

Warlords and Samurai alike surrounded themselves in what they believed brought Zen to their life, in a way, things both tangible and untangible that gave sense to their way of life. Beauty, family, loved ones, treasure, honor, status, nature, power, mercy, battles, stories, culture, food, animals, rules, order, traditions, and so on.

Remember to think of Zen as an abstract idea and don't worry yourself trying to give it a specific meaning for that is not Zen at all.

Cheers