Zen is a unique tradition that arose in China in the middle of the first millennium. It emerged not just under the influence of Buddhism and Taoism, but also Confucianism, Hinduism, and just plain Chinese folk wisdom.

As I currently see it, Zen is about not believing in the concepts we construct in order to make sense of our reality. We see and hear things, and then we add our own interpretations, emotions, judgments, and concepts into the mix, forming our composite experience of reality.

These mental functions are often useful, essential even, for our survival, but too much belief in them causes people to do crazy things (eg religion, fascism, country music). Far better is to believe as little as possible.

What is reality when you suddenly stop believing in any beliefs or interpretations about it? Well, it's just what you're experiencing right now. The founder Bodhidharma called it the one substance, Huangbo called it the One Mind.

When you simply experience your perceptions, thoughts, and feelings without forming beliefs and judgments of good and bad, you see all things for what they are: appearances. Not illusions, nor perceptions of an objective reality, simply appearances, sense perceptions.

When you see all appearances as appearances, thoughts as thoughts, feelings as feelings, some call that seeing the true nature of things.

Since the idea of there being any kind of self, individual things, objects, particles, or entities, either all separated from each other in infinite emptiness, or all connected to each other in One Mind or Brahman or Universe, is just a concept, seeing the true nature of things can also be seeing your own true nature. Just believing there are, or are not, objectively existing entities called "human beings" and "planets" makes you just as crazy as a scientologist.

So here are some things to consider, suggestions:

I am looking for a better life, a life without suffering.

There is no I. There is no better, Nor a life to look for, Nothing to suffer about, Including and particularly suffering.

I believe everything happens for a reason and that good can come from anything.

Don't believe anything! If things actually do happen for a reason and good can come from anything, great, but if you base all your decisions on that and you turn out to be wrong, you could be fucked! As soon as possible you must let go of your idea of "good" or "fucked."

Inner peace is a main goal.

Inner peace is a concept that was made up by charlatans who wanna sell you something. True peace is found in your own inner chaos and misery. There is no mental state other than this one right now. The more you seek the further from it you go. Why chase after dragons?

What should I follow?

Yourself. This unfortunate world is full of deceivers, so never be deceived by anyone, including yourself and the books you love to read.

Why follow anything When there's nothing to follow? Mazu said this ordinary mind of yours is Buddha. When you sit and see this mind as it is currently Regardless of your posture or activity It is called zazen, one of many family traditions

The great Sixth Patriarch Huineng wrote:

From the beginning there's never been a single thing Once you've reached the heart of this Why speak of transcendental bliss?