Introducing Zenn Diagrams

I’ve begun a new gallery devoted to what I call Zenn Diagramsinfographics of deep reflection (24 so far). They serve two purposes.

  1. Creating them is a way for me to make sense of this great mystery I am living and witnessing.

  2. Sharing them is a way to express what I discover along the way.

With that in mind, I invite you to pause, ponder, and perhaps find a surprising insight, spark of curiosity, or heartfelt encouragement.

The series began with a question about my relationship to Zen Buddhism. To clarify my view, I drew a pair of overlapping circles — a Venn diagram — and filled in the sections. That first sketch set off this growing collection — some detailed, some with just two words.

Venn diagrams* are a beautiful tool for exploring complexity, illuminating the relationships between things, and communicating ideas with clarity. I’ve applied that thinking tool to my Zen-ish way of seeing the world — and voilà, Zenn Diagrams.

Each one is made with great care, offered for your contemplation and enjoyment. The concepts and visualizations are original — sometimes inspired by others (as noted), always refined to deepen the insight or make it more accessible. While many appear simple at first glance, some are drawn from years of deep contemplation — distilled expressions that have stood the test of time.

Enter the gallery to see which ones speak to you.

Enter the Full Gallery

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Two Circles of Zen