expression, noun
state of selflessness; state of no-self; egoless state
Buddhist term for a state in which the sense of self or ego has been extinguished, often through meditation or enlightenment.
禅の修行によって無我の境地に達する。
Through Zen practice, one reaches a state of selflessness.
expression, noun
state of total absorption; flow state; being in the zone
Extended, non-religious use describing a state of complete immersion in an activity, where one loses awareness of time and self. Often used in sports, arts, or work.
彼は作曲に没頭して無我の境地に入っていた。
He was so absorbed in composing music that he entered a flow state.
試合中、無我の境地でプレーしていた。
During the match, I was playing in the zone.
無心 also means 'innocence' or 'free of distracting thoughts', but 無我の境地 specifically emphasizes the absence of ego or self, and is often used in a more dramatic or spiritual context.
ゾーン is a direct loanword for 'the zone' in sports psychology, while 無我の境地 carries a more traditional, sometimes Buddhist nuance even in its extended use.
A set phrase composed of 無我 (no-self, from Buddhist terminology) and 境地 (mental state, realm). The extended meaning of 'flow state' is a modern secular adaptation.