Just like what Suzuki states in his book, "The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities".
The history of Zen dates back to the 6th century that an Indian monk brought Zen into China and Zen Buddhism was born as a sect. He introduced Zen to Chinese people, demonstrating Zen by sitting facing a wall for nine years. According to tradition, Hui-neng became the sixth patriarch of Chinese Zen by superseding his rival in the intuitive grasp of the truth of enlightenment. A number of teaching lineages arose after Hui-neng, and Zen Buddhism then became best known in the West by the term satori. The 8th and 9th century were the Golden Age of Zen, producing great Zen masters, such as Ma-tsu, Nan-chuan, Huang-po, Lin-chi, and Chao-chou. The great Hakuin from whom all Zen masters trace their descent revived Japanese Zen traditional forms. Zen mind was introduced to the West by the writing of D.T. Suzuki, and interest in the practice of Zen meditation has blossomed since World War II.
Zen Buddhism spread throughout not only Asia, but also in the West in modern society. The expansion of Zen Buddhism throughout most of Asia was peaceful and occurred in several ways. Zen Buddhism spread from India to other countries in Asia, such as China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Knowledge of Buddhism has come through three main channels in the West: Western scholars; the work of philosophers, writers and artists; and the arrival of Asian immigrants who have brought various forms of Zen Buddhism with them to Europe, North America and Australia (Web. Buddhist Studies). Zen mind of peace, mindfulness and care for all living creatures have come to be the concern of many groups in both Asia and the West. Nowadays, there exist numerous Zen Buddhist centers spread across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America.