Zazen meditation is a practice used by Zen Buddhists to still the body and mind for enlightenment. It involves sitting in silence with eyes closed and breathing deeply, with traditional postures including kneeling, cross-legged sitting, lotus position, and half-lotus position. The goal is to calm the mind and body, with some using methods such as concentration and koan practice.
Zazen meditation is a practice employed by Zen Buddhists with the goal of stilling the body and mind to bring one closer to satori, or enlightenment. It is an integral part of the practice of Zen Buddhism. Zazen is performed while sitting in silence with eyes closed and breathing deeply. There are a few different traditional postures that can be assumed for Zazen meditation, and those who are new to the practice can cultivate stillness through concentration exercises.
Zazen is performed in groups in meditation centers called zendo. Meditation practice is guided by an instructor or guru, and is often alternated with walking meditation. People more advanced in the practice of Zen Buddhism can practice Zazen meditation on their own.
When practicing Zazen meditation, people sit with their arms and legs crossed and spine erect, with their eyes neither fully open nor fully closed, and breathe fully into the center of the belly. The practitioner traditionally sits on a cushion or mat, but a chair can also be used. Traditional positions for performing Zazen meditation include kneeling, cross-legged sitting, lotus position, and half-lotus position.
In the lotus position, the legs are crossed forward and each foot is placed on top of the opposite thigh, with the bottom of the foot toward the ceiling. In half lotus, only one foot is placed on the opposite thigh. The half-lotus position is recommended for those who lack the flexibility to perform the full lotus comfortably. When performing Zazen, the hands are crossed over the belly in a simple mudra, a spiritually symbolic gesture.
The goal of Zazen meditation is to completely calm and still the mind and body to allow the intuition to develop. For some Zen Buddhists, Zazen meditation is simply sitting quietly in present awareness, a state called shikantaza. Others use methods to cultivate stillness, including concentration and a practice called koan. Some practitioners use these methods as a way to grow up to be able to perform shikantaza.
Koan is the practice of meditating on a short question or story that cannot be understood through rational thinking, such as the famous “What is the sound of a hand clapping?” A Zazen practitioner focuses on a single koan for the entire meditation. The Koan is meant to inspire insight and understanding outside of the intellectual process.
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