Zen and Sufism

Q: What is the difference between the empty heart of Zen and the Sufi heart?

According to Osho, the Sufi ‘heart’ is simply a poetic name for a refined sector of mind—feeling, imagination, dreaming—so devotion still works within mental imagery. Zen’s “empty heart” means empty mind: heart and mind are synonymous, and the task is to drop all contents. When the inner room is unfurnished, its spacious emptiness becomes a doorway to the ever-present divine.

Zen and Sufism

In the dance of Zen and Sufism, the Sufi heart, a poetic essence of refined thought and devotion, mirrors Zen's empty mind; both invite us to relinquish all mental clutter, unveiling a boundless emptiness that serves as a gateway to the divine.

Osho's perspective on Zen and Sufism

What is the difference between the empty heart of Zen and the Sufi heart?

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"The Sufi heart is a beautiful dream, while the Zen heart is the vast emptiness that opens the door to the divine."

Sufism uses the mind’s feelings and images; Zen throws everything out so only clear space remains for truth to shine.

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Osho's perspective on Zen and Sufism

What is the difference between the empty heart of Zen and the Sufi heart?

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