It is time to look back at this year’s April A to Z Challenge. I almost skipped writing this post, but didn’t want to break the tradition, even though I don’t have much to say. This year, I wasn’t as involved as I hoped to be. 2013, the first year was…
Posts published in “Mindful Living”
Zazen
Meditation is a wonderful and easy practice. I see it as a way to sit quietly as my mind gets into neutral gear, leading to a nice state of calm. A state where it is easy to appreciate everything I have.
Zen is the practice of returning to this moment. Rather than getting away from our life, it is about getting into our life just as it is, in all its glory – a sort of awakening to ourselves and generally feeling responsible for life.
Zen meditation, also called Zazen, is an easy and uncomplicated practice. You sit, and start where you are, and finish where you are. In the process, you develop an awareness of whatever you experience without thinking about it or trying to change it.
You don’t even need to aim for a state of calm or stillness – the goal is non-judgmental awareness. This facilitates letting go – and the calm and peace are welcome side benefits.
It is a super-easy practice that follows this sequence:
- You sit comfortably
- You relax
- Each time you feel a thought coming, you acknowledge it and let it go. You do this repeatedly.
- Finally you surrender all thought and gently detach yourself and stay alert, present in this moment.
As a mindfulness meditation practice, Zazen achieves the wonderful challenge of awakening you to the present moment, while gently urging you to let go, so that you see the world exactly as it is. This means you immerse yourself in the present moment with no thoughts interfering with the experience.
How to do Zazen
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