Many people hear “Buddhism” or “Eastern philosophy” and think of something spiritual or religious.
In reality, it is often the opposite.
The teachings of Buddhism and Zen are a systematic observation of the human mind—a form of practical psychology.
Today they are being reevaluated as timeless wisdom in science, business, and many other fields.
On this page, through the words of well-known figures from different domains,
I’d like to show why Zen and Eastern philosophy are so relevant in our time.
Business World
Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple)
Stay hungry, stay willing to be a beginner.
(This spirit is rooted in the Zen attitude of “own little, stay humble, keep learning.”)
Mark Zuckerberg (Founder of Facebook)
Buddhism is not only a religion but also a powerful philosophy.
I’m gradually learning more about it and hope to deepen my understanding over time.
Philip Kotler (Father of Modern Marketing)
From now on, marketing that supports “post-growth” societies will become increasingly important.
Jason Miller (Former Senior Director of Content Marketing, LinkedIn)
We need to shift from “always pushing for the sale”
to “always trying to be genuinely helpful.”
Scientific World
Albert Einstein (Physicist)
Buddhism is, historically, the only religion fully compatible with modern science.
Hideki Yukawa (Physicist, Nobel Prize Laureate)
Greek philosophy was of little help in particle physics,
but Buddhism taught me a great deal.
Niels Bohr (Father of Quantum Theory)
To understand atomic physics, we are drawn back to the questions faced by thinkers like Buddha and Lao-tzu—
how to see our role as both actors and observers in the great drama of existence.
Bertrand Russell (Mathematician, Nobel Laureate)
Buddhism is a philosophy in which reflection and science are woven together.
It proposes a methodical, rational inquiry into reality and leads us beyond the limits of instruments—into the realm of the mind.
World of Philosophy
Friedrich Nietzsche (Philosopher)
From a historical perspective, Buddhism may be the only religion that thinks through its ideas with strict logic.
H. G. Wells (Writer and Historian)
The Buddha’s core teaching is clear and simple,
and it harmonizes closely with modern thought.
Buddhism is one of the most intellectually refined achievements in human history.
Arnold Toynbee (Historian)
If you ask what kind of human spirit the twenty-first century will need,
my answer is: the Mahayana Buddhist spirit of benefiting both self and others.
Sports World
Phil Jackson (Legendary NBA Coach, “Zen Master”)
At first, being told to sit quietly in a small room and focus only on my breathing felt strange—
yet it transformed how we played.
Dai Tamesue (Former Track Athlete, Thinker)
Behind the medals and records, I used Zen as a guide
to observe my body and mind to their limits.
Summary: Zen as a “Science of the Mind”
Buddhism is a philosophy in which reflection and science are woven together.
It proposes a methodical, rational inquiry into reality and leads us beyond the limits of instruments—into the realm of the mind.
From a historical perspective, Buddhism may be the only religion that thinks through its ideas with strict logic.
The Buddha’s core teaching is clear and simple,
and it harmonizes closely with modern thought.
Buddhism is one of the most intellectually refined achievements in human history.
If you ask what kind of human spirit the twenty-first century will need,
my answer is: the Mahayana Buddhist spirit of benefiting both self and others.
At first, being told to sit quietly in a small room and focus only on my breathing felt strange—
yet it transformed how we played.
Behind the medals and records, I used Zen as a guide
to observe my body and mind to their limits.
Looking at these voices, we can see that Zen and Buddhism function less as “religion” and more as a science of the mind—a philosophy of living.
Physicists learn from Zen about the nature of observation.
Leaders learn how to let go of attachment.
Athletes learn how to focus fully on the present moment.
Across all these fields, what they seek is essentially the same.
Not just better results, but a better way of being.
By “knowing sufficiency,” outer success naturally begins to follow.
Zen is not about blindly believing in something.
It is a practical psychology that helps us understand ourselves
through careful, honest observation of reality as it is.
And I believe that this quiet clarity is exactly what will define true richness in the years ahead.
