Zen Buddhism is a very interesting thing for many reasons. It is something that no matter what a person’s religious beliefs are they can still through it gain the opportunity to grow.
Zen Buddhists value meditation and really focus on their intuition far more than most people do.

Many masters have been present throughout the years and because of this, their teachings are quite prominent in the world these days. While not easy to define or mesh into one single category, Zen is something we should all experience at some point in our lives.

Below I am going to go over the most important ‘rules’ or practices that can benefit any and all who wish to achieve something higher. If you’re looking for peace of mind or simply want to try out something new, perhaps these things are worth looking into. While not all will be as easy as they sound, they will all be quite useful as your life continues forth.

12 Zen Rules That Will Literally Change Your Life:

1. Never rush things, always take your time.

The best things in life take time. We should put our all into each and everything that we do. If you rush, you will make far more mistakes.

2. There is a time and place for everything.

While it might seem easier to force things to happen than to allow them to fall into place, that is not the way. Allow your life to mold into what it is going to be. Everything that is supposed to happen will happen when you are ready. As noted above the more you rush the more mistakes you will end up making.

3. You should always be as in the moment as possible.

We are not promised tomorrow. Live as in the moment as you can and enjoy each second as if it were going to be your last. Do the things you know you would regret not having done if you were to lose your life.

4. Without humility we have nothing.

We must all be humble, while this means different things to each of us it reigns true for us all. We must not allow pride and the power of our ego to overshadow our ability to do good in this world. We must give back to those who give to us.

5. Do good for the sake of doing good, not for reward.

Do not do things to reap the benefits you may, do things because you want to help others and be there for the people in your life. The kinder you are and the more you do the better you will feel. If you sit at the top of your tower without having stopped by anyone else’s door along the way you will be the loneliest person in the world.

6. If we wish to find peace we must stop overthinking.

While overthinking is something that we all do and it is hard to shy away from, doing so will bring about far more peace than you can imagine. Your mind is a scary place and allowing it to wander might not be the best idea. Sure, think things through but don’t get carried away.

7. Get the sleep you need.

Our bodies are important. If we do not nourish them properly we will only cause more pain. Take care of yourself and sleep when you need to sleep.

8. You should always think before you act.

Do not do things without thinking first. You should never act without mowing over the consequences in your head. What will your actions cause?

9. Be mindful of the things you put into this world.

The things we say matter and once they are said we can never truly take them back. We should never speak for the sake of speaking. Our words can hurt far more than you might realize.

10. Meditate daily, do not skip.

Meditation is something our soul needs. We should never skip a day and should do our best to meditate as often as possible. This will help you to clear your mind and promote peace as time passes.

11. Never regret the past.

Your past does not define you but it does show how much stronger you are. Do not regret the things you cannot change. Move on from them and become a better person, you are capable of so much more.

12. Treat those around you with compassion, always.

Other people deserve to be treated with compassion. Do not look down on anyone or anything, you never know what situation you may be in down the line. Life throws many curve balls.