Ōbaku Zen may be seen as a carefully balanced synthesis in which classical Zen insights and Pure Land devotion mutually illuminate one another. At its heart, it upholds the familiar Zen conviction that all beings possess Buddha‑nature and that awakening arises through direct, experiential realization rather than conceptual elaboration. Meditation, especially in forms closely related to Rinzai practice, and the possibility of sudden awakening remain central. The school also affirms the traditional Zen sense of a transmission that points beyond words and texts, even while it does not reject scriptural study. In this way, Ōbaku Zen preserves the core Zen orientation toward direct insight into mind as the path to enlightenment.

At the same time, Ōbaku Zen gives a prominent place to Pure Land elements, particularly devotion to Amitābha (Amida) Buddha and recitation of the nembutsu. This recitation functions both as an expression of faith in Amitābha’s compassionate vow and as a meditative discipline that can concentrate the mind and open it to awakening. Within this perspective, Amitābha may be revered as a transcendent Buddha and also understood as a manifestation of one’s own enlightened mind, so that Pure Land and mind are not ultimately two. The Pure Land itself can thus be regarded both as a transcendent realm and as a purified state of consciousness, without forcing a rigid choice between these interpretations.

A distinctive feature of Ōbaku Zen is its refusal to set “self‑power” and “other‑power” in stark opposition. Meditative effort and reliance on Amitābha’s vow are treated as complementary approaches that converge on the same ultimate reality. Nembutsu recitation is not merely a petition for future rebirth but is honored as a genuine Zen practice capable of leading to realization, standing alongside zazen and kōan work. In this way, calling on Amida Buddha and realizing satori are understood as different expressions of a single awakening process, rather than rival methods.

This synthesis is reflected in the school’s broader religious life. Ōbaku Zen maintains a strong emphasis on ethical conduct and observance of precepts as both a foundation for practice and a natural expression of awakening. It values ritual and liturgy, including chanting and ceremonies associated with Amitābha and Pure Land scriptures, while also respecting key Zen and Mahāyāna texts. Scriptural and ritual forms are not treated as ends in themselves, but as skillful means that support the lived experience of insight and devotion. Through this integration, Ōbaku Zen offers a path in which contemplative clarity and heartfelt faith are cultivated side by side.