The Best Way to Practice Zen Meditation
#6 in our weekly series - The Tuesday “That was Zen, this is Tao" Newsletter.
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A 2 minute read
Let’ begin with what is the literal meaning of zazen?
Zen Meditation (Zazen) literally meaning "seated meditation"; is a Japanese meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition, and other spiritual paths that trace their origins or philosophy to this tradition. In zazen the practitioner let’s all thoughts, memories, emotions, and images, pass through the mind without attachment or judgement.
However, the term is a general one describing a practice not unique to Zen. Technically any seated mindful-meditation in any number of spiritual traditions could be considered zazen. In other words, the meaning and method of zazen varies from school to school.
When I Googled the term “Zen Meditation Meaning,” these were the most common questions asked…
What is the Best Zen Meditation?
What is the goal of zazen?
How is zazen meditation done?
Is zazen and Zen the same thing?
I will do my best to answer each of them in this newsletter, though not necessarily in the order asked.
What is the Best Zen Meditation?
To begin with there is no specific or best way to practice Zen meditation. There are many different schools in Zen.
The type of Zen I practice is called Essential Zen (EZ). This is a type of Zen, that does not specifically identify as Buddhist, and specifically does not focus on external rites, rituals, ceremonies, clergy, sacred texts, or any related to Zen or to religion in general.
There are many ways to practice meditation in Zen, however the one referenced to most often is called Zazen.
How to Meditate the Zen Way
In most Zen meditation the purpose, initially, is to focus and quiet the mind. This can be done a number of ways:
Counting a series if numbers. I do this beginning with 7, and going down to 7…, 6…, 5… and so on.
Inhaling and exhaling slowly and focusing attention on the breaths.
Mantra chanting can also used in place of counting. – A mantra is any word, sound, or phrase repeated to aid concentration in meditation. It doesn’t need to be sacred, or in any specific language. I personally repeat 10 words “love, kindness, compassion, empathy, wisdom, beauty, goodness, grace, gratitude, and surrender.” These words have no specific meaning to me, however they seem to block negative and intrusive thoughts in my own meditative and thought processes.
Contemplating during meditation upon a koan (a type of mental puzzle) or some statement, question, or story.
Walking slowly (an EZ practice) and doing any of the previous approaches (1-4). This also a technique often used by the esteemed Vietnamese Zen monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.
Once a person has gained some skill and focus in one or all of these methods, they are ready to proceed to the next step. Here the meditator begins to watch the mind objectively.
What does all this mean? Nothing and everything?
In Zen, if there is any goal, or desired outcome it is to become fully Awakened to one’s true nature. It is a type of meditation that enables and allows us to do this. Over time, the meditator becomes ever more familiar with this silence – a reflection one’s own true nature.
The Takeaway
The ultimate goal of zazen or any Zen meditation is to simply allow thoughts to flow without judgment, letting then pass through the mind with as much detachment as possible.
Here the meditator does not block out thoughts, but becomes acutely aware of them, whether surroundings, the body, breath or mind respectively. This is allowed while simultaneously moving inwards.
This inward movement is done until one finally begins to alternatively count, watch the breather, chant a mantra, and become aware of a “silence” that exists, or rather rests between and beneath all of it.
In time, the meditator only observes this silence.
This is article is an excerpt from my advanced Zen Course and my introductory book Spiritual not Religious.
Here is the link to the book.
https://www.amazon.ca/Spiritual-Not-Religious-Sacred-Modern-ebook/dp/B00I9H41C4
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Author: Hey there. My name is Lewis Harrison, and I created this newsletter. I am a transformational coach, teacher, and prepper. I am a writer, seminar leader, and a mentor and guide for those seeking to study the Tao t Chhing and the Chuang Tzu. The author of over twenty books, and numerous self-improvement, spiritual studies, and personal development courses, I am the former host of a talk show on NPR Affiliated WIOX91.3 FM.
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