Zazen
came from Zen.
It literally means seated meditation. The
meaning and method of zazen varies from
school to school. In the Japanese Rinzai
school, zazen is usually associated with the
study of koans. A koan is a riddle or puzzle
that Zen Buddhists use during meditation to
help them unravel greater truths about the
world and about themselves. On other hand,
Soto School of Japan rarely incorporates
koans into zazen, preferring an approach
where the mind has no object at all, known as
shikantaza.
The posture for doing zazen meditation
Shikantaza is form of meditation. In which
individual does not involve any materialistic
focus for meditation. It requires one to be in
‘present’, without any thought of past or
future. Just observe what is passing through
your mind and around it. It is also called as
“no-mind” state. This is the art of zazen.
Our mind is a very tricky thing, it cannot be
controlled. It can only be diverted. When
mind is in present i.e. without any past or
future thoughts, this very moment becomes
our meditation. When our mind is not thinking
anything, or in no-mind state, and we able to
breathe in & out without keeping any
thoughts in mind, then miracle happens.
In no-mind state, we’re potentially connected
to the cosmic energy.
Generally, it is difficult for us to ‘not-think’
anything because we are so much affected
by our desires and responsibilities that our
mind is always in thoughts about- tomorrow’s
day, money, people, world. But as we being
social animal, these are our basic need to
survive in this world. Food and shelter as
being most basic need for any developed
species, human as so far we know, to make
communicable community which can
perceive knowledge and can transfer to their
next generation. As a result, today we have
knowledge about our history, other species,
human mind, mechanism of nature & science
that we have invented very superior
technology to make our lives more easy and
comfortable.
Love and anger are spinning this world. With
‘anger’ we had wars, we drew lines of metal,
we divided people with mental boundaries
and created world with ego & greed. With
‘love’ we have music, we have art, we have
creation, we witnessed Buddha, Jesus, Guru
nanak, Mahadev and created world with
scriptures, religions & knowledge.
Yesterday becomes history, unload all
bundles of yesterday’s thoughts, desires or
ambitions. You cannot do anything about
which is already done, in this time. Do things
which are in present and very possibly can
shape our future.
So chill, go with the flow. This is
understanding of Zen.
In initial stage, we can dance, do body
workout or focus on breathing to clear our
thoughtful mind. Go in with the breath and
come out with the breath. Take breath down
till stomach, where lies our navel chakra.
During this process, we don’t think anything.
Our mind is free from any kind of identity of
past and future. Don’t even focus on
requesting energy i.e. for healing, chakra
energizing, or for enlightenment. Yes, even
enlightenment can become a desire.
Only key is to stay calm & patient. Everything
comes with time. Trust yourself and be
happy.
Charanjit singh
Bangalore, IN