Zen traditionally is a school of Mahayanana Buddism, and is a form of meditation practised by Buddhists and others. What exactly is Zen and how do you become it I hear you say? The word Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word Chán), which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna which can be approximately translated as "absorption" or "meditative state". So it is a bit Indian, a bit Japanese and a bit Chinese. Zen has now spread into the Western World and the word Zen became especially known following the publication of the book, “Zen, and the art of motorcycle maintenance” in 1971 – a book which was bought by many a biker in the hope of breathing life into an ancient Norton. Sadly, the book had little to do with Zen and even less to do with motorcycle maintenance.

These days Zen does not specifically focus on monks and is not all about enlightenment, many meditation schools are now pitching together meaning the boundaries are a lot less traditional, therefore Zen can arrive now through many forums.

However, if sitting cross legged and contemplating the sound of your breathing doesn’t exactly get your heart racing then an alternative is Zen the online. Play PAWS of FURY. Set in the East, you are met by a zen Asian panda (slight twist - he has a wok upturned on his head), a fantastic new slots game recently released by bgo.com. The Zen feel is very much felt across the slot game as the reel takes place in a secluded Japanese garden with autumnal leaves floating across the screen. The reels themselves contain symbols which include a traditional Japanese temple.

Being Zen does not mean completely sticking to the rules, but if you really want to test yourself… why not try this quiz and see how ‘Zen’ you are!