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What famous historical figures have practiced Zen meditation?

Imogene Okill

Hey there social media fam! Are you a history buff who loves a little mindfulness in your life? Then you’ll be stoked to learn about these famous historical figures who practiced Zen meditation!

First up, we have the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Not only was he a badass swordsman, he was also a master of Zen meditation. In fact, his famous book The Book of Five Rings not only teaches martial arts techniques, but also includes his thoughts on meditation and achieving a state of mindfulness.

Next, we have the prolific writer Jack Kerouac. You may recognize him as the author of On the Road, but did you know he was also a Zen Buddhist? Kerouac spent many years practicing meditation and even wrote a book about his experiences called Some of the Dharma.

Moving on to the world of music, the iconic Beatles frontman John Lennon was also a meditator. In fact, he and his bandmates famously studied Transcendental Meditation with guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The teachings of TM have roots in Zen meditation, so it’s safe to say Lennon had some exposure to this practice.

Shifting back to the world of martial arts, we have the one and only Bruce Lee. Like Musashi, Lee was a martial arts master who also practiced Zen meditation. He believed that physical and mental strength were interconnected, and often integrated meditation into his training regimen.

Last but not least, we have the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. He’s not exactly a historical figure, but his contributions to the practice of Zen meditation are too significant to ignore. Hanh is a Vietnamese monk who has written numerous books on mindfulness and helped bring the practice of meditation to western audiences.

So there you have it, folks! A glimpse into the world of famous historical figures who embraced the power of Zen meditation. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next person to add yourself to this list!