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.
Through Zen practice, one reaches a state of selflessness.
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.
He was so absorbed in composing music that he entered a flow state.
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.