Zazen

The last few weeks and especially the last few days have reminded me of the importance of my zazen practice. I have often devised many excuses to skip or abbreviate my practice. Last night I read some feedback left for me by a fellow photographer who I felt was very critical with respect to his feedback. After I sat and reflected upon the feedback I realized he was so right. I had forgotten, neglected my practice and in haste was in the process of making poor business decisions. His feedback helped me to see what I could not or if you will…would not. I thank this new friend for his honest feedback because without it I would have remained poorly directed.

Today I thought about going paddling as the weather had grown to a balmy 50-degrees and with the help of a steady rain the majority of the snow on the ground had melted. For me paddling is much like zazen practice for when I paddle I become one with my boat and paddle. I allow nothing to bother me and for a brief period of time I feel unencumbered by life and its accompanying distractions.

For those of you unfamiliar with zazen I offer the following definition. For those of you familiar with zazen I apologize for the redundancy.

Zazen is the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. The aim of zazen is just sitting, “opening the hand of thought.” Once the mind is able to be unhindered by its many layers, one will then be able to realize one’s true Buddha nature. In Zen Buddhism, zazen literally means “seated meditation” and is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and mind and experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment (satori).

The posture of zazen is seated, with folded legs and hands, and an erect but settles spine. The legs are folded in one of the standard sitting styles. The hands are folded together into a simple mudra over the belly. In many practices, one breathes from the hara or the center of gravity in the belly with the eyelids half-lowered, the eyes being neither fully open nor shut so that the practitioner is not distracted by outside objects but at the same time is kept awake.