The goal of Sōtō Zen, like other schools of Zen Buddhism, is the attainment of enlightenment, or satori. This is understood as the realization of one's own true nature, which is believed to be a state of complete clarity, peace, and understanding that is beyond words and concepts.

In Sōtō Zen, enlightenment is seen as the natural state of mind that is obscured by the delusions and attachments that arise due to the workings of the ego. The goal of the spiritual path is to remove these delusions and attachments and to awaken to one's true nature.

The attainment of enlightenment is considered to be the ultimate goal of the spiritual path, but it is also understood that the path itself is an ongoing process of self-discovery and cultivation. Along the way, practitioners may experience various stages of awakening and insight that bring them closer to the goal of enlightenment. Keeping with the broader Buddhist tradition, Zen practitioners emphasize the primacy of oneness. As such, Zen practitioners often seek to participate in this oneness to achieve experiences of samadhi (or moksha), the dissolution of the barrier between the self and all else.

In other words, Zen practitioners perceive the world as a conglomeration of false binaries. There is the “self vs. the other”, “good versus evil”, “love versus hate” and so on. Such artificial divisions give rise to unnecessary suffering and divisiveness, and can be overcome through zazen. The earnest Zen practitioner, thus practices meditation for the sake of realizing a consistent state of “not-two”, or an understanding that there is no self and no other, nor good nor evil. Everything simply is.

Ultimately, the goal of Sōtō Zen is the realization of one's own true nature, which is believed to be a state of complete clarity, peace, and understanding that is beyond words and concepts. This is seen as the ultimate goal of the spiritual path, but the journey itself is an ongoing process of self-discovery and cultivation.

Sōtō Zen is a school of Zen Buddhism that originated in China and was brought to Japan in the 13th century by the Zen master Dogen. The name "Sōtō" comes from the Chinese Caodong tradition, which was founded by the Zen master Dongshan Liangjie and is the basis of this school.

Zen itself originated with the teachings of the Guatama Buddha over 2500 years ago. Following the creation of the Chan school of Mahayana in China, the Chan school was brought to Japan and popularized as Zen Buddhism by Dogen in the 11th century. As Zen developed in Japan, numerous schools took shape, eventually coalescing into the three key veins of Zen that are still active today: Sōtō, Obaku, and Rinzai. These days, Zen continues to be one of the most popular Buddhist paths worldwide, bearing close resemblance to its Chinese and Korean cousins, Chan and Son.

The origins of Sōtō Zen can be traced back to the Chinese Caodong tradition and the teachings of the Zen master Dongshan Liangjie. Dongshan's teachings were transmitted to Japan by the Zen master Dogen in the 13th century, and Dogen is considered the founder of the Sōtō Zen school in Japan. Since its inception, Sōtō Zen has played a significant role in the development of Zen Buddhism in Japan and has influenced the spread of Zen Buddhism around the world. It has produced many influential teachers and spiritual leaders over the centuries and continues to be a vital and vibrant tradition today.