What is Zen?

It's difficult to put into words. If I mention "stillness" or "meditation," that's part of it, but it's not entirely accurate, because Zen can be practiced while working, driving, speaking. How? With training in zazen.

Zen as Zazen or meditation.

A way to start thinking of Zen is as a practice or training of stillness and awareness. Historically, Zen is the branch of Buddhism that stresses and practices developing zazen, sitting meditation. This is in order to have a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us. We do it for our own sake.

Eventually, maybe, we get to the place of not being attached even to stillness and awareness. We live a daily life, based on awakening. For most of us this comes later.

What Zen provides is a method of self-reflection, and an ecological philosophy. Ecological in that our lives and world are co-developing systems, self developing here on earth. Each of us is equally part of this, including all beings, stones and walls.

I was attracted to Buddhism because it seems they teach that the universe or "reality" operates more like a law, similar to karma. This appealed to me because rather than resembling a person who is the central figure (God) making judgments or exerting control, there is a process. For me this is close to "Events follow karma, and my karma generates events."

Over time, we may understand that our so-called "self" is a construct, the belief that each of us is interrelated with all others. As a result we become less self-centered, more concerned about others and ways which we might help. So, I suggest not getting stuck on making "oneself," or "one's mind" stronger or more powerful. Rather, in our zazen, we are seeing mindfully our thoughts and reactions as they pass.

Why is Posture Stressed in Zen?

To my eyes, as a North American white guy, the photos of guys sitting in black robes, with their chins tucked in, looks stern. Very stern.

However, in Zen meditation, bodily stillness is crucial. When the body slows down and the breath deepens into the lower abdomen, various things can occur, most of them beneficial.

After many years of practicing Zen and conversing with teachers, I have come to believe that the zazen posture is the posture of awakening. This belief is shared by the Soto Zen school. When it comes to zazen, all I need to bring is myself. It has taken me years of faith to become comfortable with zazen (sitting posture). Through this practice, perseverance and, hopefully, compassion are cultivated.

Zazen is a clear experience of our awareness, or bodhi. It's our foundational practice, and our ancestors have shown us the Path.

(Please take some time for this exercise.)

After sitting cross legged or in a chair, we rest our hands on our lap with the left hand over the right, and our thumbs gently touching. Our eyes are partially open, gazing downward. This serves as a gentle cue to transition away from sight and thought. We slightly tuck in our chin to maintain a straight back and enhance breathing. Do this gently. (Avoid appearing rigid like a soldier.)

Allow the breath to travel down to the abdomen and up. Over time, this breath becomes our natural breath. We may recognize it, this breath we have when calm. The method is called zazen, or sitting still with awareness.

In zazen we are not allowing ourselves to sleep or dream, usually. These will happen, so part of zazen is getting used to them, and not floating away with them. This includes the nature of our self-talk. as well as our self-talk. You may take the "backward step" and notice yourself— how easily we get into aversion (irritation, anger). In Zen we teach instead of going on with that annoying story, we bring our personal awareness back to the present moment, just resting in one of our senses, including thoughts. We are observing our immediate thoughts and reactions, perhaps seeing when they are not always true or helpful.

How do we get there?

During my hike yesterday, when people asked if they were "almost there," I told them, "There is no there." We shared a laugh.

However, in Zen, this is a significant idea. I think we are always on the Path. And due to change, the Path continuously unfolds in unforeseen ways.