satori

[suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

noun

Zen.

1. sudden enlightenment.

satori

/ səˈtɔːrɪ /

noun

1. Zen Buddhism the state of sudden indescribable intuitive enlightenment

Word History and Origins

Origin of satori¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from Japanese: specific sense of noun satori “comprehension, understanding,” derivative of the verb satori “to awaken”

Word History and Origins

Origin of satori¹

from Japanese

Example Sentences

Just kidding – but truly, Steve's display of satori verges on this level of supernatural.

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“They don’t know,” he said, shaking his head sadly at how far they were from Jamaican-chicken satori.

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Dr. Suzuki says somewhere that to be in a state of pure consciousness—satori—is to be with God before he said, Let there be light.

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How would judges differentiate between mostly invisible forms of quietly crouching satori?

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He calls today’s young men and women the satori sedai, or enlightened generation, meaning that Buddha-like, they eschew big aspirations and seek happiness in simple things.

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