It's hard to explain, but I think it's similar. At its core, it's usually expressed like this:
Bù lì wén zì[Bulipmunja] (不立文字): The truth of enlightenment cannot be fully expressed through language or written words.
Jiào wài bié chuán[Gyoebyeoljeon] (敎外別傳): A separate transmission of truth outside the scriptures, not something acquired through formal teaching.
Zhí zhǐ rén xīn[Jikjiinsim] (直指人心): Without relying on anything else, directly look into your own mind.
Jiàn xìng chéng fó[Gyeonseongseongbul] (見性成佛): By realizing the Buddha nature already inherent within yourself, you become a Buddha yourself.
In this worldview, Buddhism sees existence as being trapped within the cycle of Samsara. Becoming a Buddha, attaining Nirvana, means escaping from that cycle. So our Zen ultimately points to something beyond life and death, a final liberation that we call Nirvana. But I'm always careful when talking about this, because putting it into words can easily lead us away from the essence itself.
Bù lì wén zì[Bulipmunja] (不立文字): The truth of enlightenment cannot be fully expressed through language or written words.
Jiào wài bié chuán[Gyoebyeoljeon] (敎外別傳): A separate transmission of truth outside the scriptures, not something acquired through formal teaching.
Zhí zhǐ rén xīn[Jikjiinsim] (直指人心): Without relying on anything else, directly look into your own mind.
Jiàn xìng chéng fó[Gyeonseongseongbul] (見性成佛): By realizing the Buddha nature already inherent within yourself, you become a Buddha yourself.
In this worldview, Buddhism sees existence as being trapped within the cycle of Samsara. Becoming a Buddha, attaining Nirvana, means escaping from that cycle. So our Zen ultimately points to something beyond life and death, a final liberation that we call Nirvana. But I'm always careful when talking about this, because putting it into words can easily lead us away from the essence itself.