What Is Zen
Zen is not a moral teaching, and as it is without dogma, it does not require one to believe in anything. A true spiritual path does not tell people what to believe in; rather it shows them how to think; or, in the case of Zen - what not to think.
Zen Buddhism, like a taste or a smell, is a practice that needs to be experienced, not a concept to understand.
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The practice of Zen meditation (Zazen), is the core of Zen Buddhism and itâs a way of vigilance and self-discovery which is practiced while sitting on a meditation cushion. It is the experience of living from moment to moment, in the here and now and also how Gautama got enlightened and became the Buddha.
Zazen is an attitude of spiritual awakening.
- In a silent place, quietly sit down, stop moving, and let go of your thoughts.Â
- Focus just on your Zazen posture and your breathing.Â
- Keep your back straight.Â
- Let your ego and your unconscious mind melt away, merge with the universe.
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- âZenâ is a shorthand for Zen Buddhism, introduced into China in the 6th century, and emphasizes enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means.
- Zen is a path to fully awaken to your original nature, which is present at all times.
- The word Zen comes from the Chinese word âchĂĄnâ and the Sanskrit word âdhyana, â which means âmeditation. â
- A Zen mind cannot be understood from the perspective of our ordinary, dualistic mind.
- Zen practice may calm our minds, bring more clarity, and infuse us with greater kindness.
- Life has no intrinsic meaning but that which we give it.
- Everything is uncertain, so we must put together a world view that fits roughly with the facts, and accept that it is just a guess.
- Life cannot be described, only experienced.
- Zazen, spending hours seated in contemplative meditation, is unnecessary.
- Karma and reincarnation are not real.
- Zen and Taoism are more like psychotherapy than religion. They offer ways to maintain a healthy personality in a contradictory and repressive culture.
- Zen philosophy teaches one to think clearly, and thus transcend conventional thinking to a place where the mind could be at peace despite its environment.
Due to the wide variety of practice methods, and the westernization of the term Zen, thanks to popular fiction and cultural figures, many people arenât quite sure what Zen means.
Nonetheless, the continual evolution of Zen, as well as its practice and impact, is due to the vague and personal nature of the concept itself. However you choose to involve Zen teachings and beliefs in your life, the end goal is the same â enlightenment and a more self-aware existence.