satori

Where does the word "satori" come from? It comes from Japanese satori, and was adopted directly into English (early 1900s).

Satori’s story begins in Japanese: satori meant “sudden spiritual awakening or enlightenment.” Named the sudden flash of understanding sought in Zen practice. It reached English by early 1900s as satori. Entered English through D. T. Suzuki's writings introducing Zen Buddhism to the West. Today, satori means in Zen Buddhism, a sudden, intuitive flash of enlightenment or insight.

1. Stage 1 · Japanese · medieval satori "sudden spiritual awakening or enlightenment", named the sudden flash of understanding sought in Zen practice.
2. Stage 2 · English · early 1900s satori "a sudden flash of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism", entered English through D. T. Suzuki's writings introducing Zen Buddhism to the West.