Zazen is most intimately associated with Zen Buddhism, where it stands as the central, defining practice and is regarded as the direct way of realizing enlightenment. Within the various Zen schools, such as Sōtō, Rinzai, and Ōbaku, seated meditation is not simply one technique among many, but the very heart of the path. In this context, zazen is inseparable from the broader Zen vision of “just sitting” and the realization of Buddha-nature. The posture, the stillness, and the attentive presence are all framed within this particular understanding of what it means to awaken.

At the same time, seated meditation itself is not the sole preserve of Zen. Other Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda and Tibetan lineages, cultivate seated practices that are functionally similar, even if they are described with different terms and embedded in different doctrinal frameworks. Practices such as śamatha, vipaśyanā, and related forms of bhāvanā or dhyāna also involve sitting quietly, stabilizing the mind, and cultivating insight. The outer form may resemble zazen, yet the language, emphasis, and interpretive lenses can differ in subtle but important ways.

Beyond formally defined schools, zazen-style sitting has also been taken up in a variety of other settings. Some non-Zen Buddhist groups, influenced by the spread of Zen, have adopted this mode of practice under the same name. In addition, non-denominational meditation centers, secular mindfulness programs, and practitioners from other spiritual backgrounds sometimes make use of zazen techniques. Here, the same basic posture and method may be present, but the surrounding aims and philosophical context often shift, reflecting the concerns of each community.

Thus, zazen can be seen as both particular and shared: particular in its classical Zen articulation, yet shared in its basic form of seated, silent meditation that resonates across traditions. The stillness of sitting, the simplicity of breath and posture, and the direct encounter with one’s own mind are not confined to a single school, even though Zen has given this practice its most distinctive name and character.