Meaning & use
satori
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
In Zen Buddhism, a sudden experience of deep understanding or spiritual awakening.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or 'an': to experience satori. Sometimes countable in specialized texts: a satori.
Patterns
- experience satori
- achieve satori
- a moment of satori
The monk described his satori as a flash of insight that changed his life.
Meditation is seen as a path toward satori in Zen practice.
She spoke of a moment of satori while walking in the garden.
Common combinations
- experience satori
- Some practitioners spend years meditating before they experience satori.
- achieve satori
- He believed that strict discipline was the way to achieve satori.
- moment of satori
- The poem captures a moment of satori in everyday life.
- Zen satori
- Zen satori is often described as sudden rather than gradual.
Synonyms and how they differ
- enlightenment
- Enlightenment is a broader term used in many religions and philosophies, while satori is specific to Zen Buddhism.
- awakening
- Awakening is a general word for becoming aware; satori is a sudden, direct spiritual insight in Zen.
- insight
- Insight is an ordinary word for understanding; satori carries a religious and transformative meaning.
Commonly confused: satori or satori?
satori vs satori
Not to be confused with 'satori' as a Japanese surname or place name; as a common noun it refers only to the Zen experience.
Practice
In Zen Buddhism, a sudden flash of spiritual insight is called ___.
Choose one answer.
'Satori' is the correct term for a sudden spiritual awakening in Zen. 'Sated' means fully satisfied with food or desire, 'saucy' means cheeky, and 'sate' is a verb meaning to satisfy fully.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “satori”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.