Zen & Buddhism

If You Meet the Buddha, Kill Him

The radical teaching to release all concepts, even enlightenment.

If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him. Don't worship external authorities, concepts, or ideals. Even the idea of Buddha becomes an obstacle. Freedom means letting go of everything, including the path.

Written about in

• What Zen says about doubt

  The most uncomfortable teaching in the set: even the Buddha, even enlightenment, even the path becomes an obstacle the moment you hold it as an authority. Zen will not hand you a certainty to fall back on, and it says so openly. Doubt about Zen is included in the deal.