“We do not practice zazen to attain enlightenment, but rather to express our true nature.” Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Practicing Zen Buddhism
Suzuki Roshi authored the most popular Zen book of all time, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind and is often credited with firmly planting Zen Buddhism in America.Roshi described the attitude of zazen like this: “The purpose of meditation is to encourage you to be kind to yourself. Do not meditate to avoid your thinking mind, but to take care of it. Attend to your breath warmly, like a mother attends to her infant, and then you will be fully satisfied. If we do not have some warm, big satisfaction in our practice, then it is not true practice.”
Robert Aitken offers detailed meditation practice instruction in his book, Taking the Path of Zen. He says: "The essence of zazen is posture and breath. For posture, we take our model from the posture of a one-year-old baby. The child sits bolt upright with spine curving forward. The belly sticks out in front and the rear end sticks out behind. Correct zazen posture requires a meditation cushion and a pad. The cushion (zafu) elevates your rear end, and the pad (zabuton) provides a steady seat. Seated, we count our breaths, from one to ten, again and again. Breath counting is a useful means of settling down, and it reminds us that we are not just sitting there, but actually practicing meditation."
"Start with five minutes meditation every day. And set a time when you won’t be disturbed. If you sit religiously for five minutes every day, you will soon naturally want to extend your time. But if you start out planning something more ambitious, you are more likely to fail. Bring your targets up close, so that you can hit the bulls eye every time, and then gradually move them to a greater distance.
"At first, as a beginner, you will be conscious of every detail – like you were when you first learned to drive a car. But eventually you gain confidence. And you become one with the activity. The practice will do the practice."
Zen centers provide support for your individual meditation practice, and also expand your view of meditation through exposure to other meditators. Most Zen practitioners attend a center regularly, or as a guest for a week or two at a time. Suzuki Roshi said this about practicing in a center: “Practicing with others opens a space where you can express yourself fully. You can open your eyes to appreciate the practice of others. We are not the same. Within the forms of the Zen centers, people express themselves, and relationships deepen. We become good friends to one another.”
Books Available from Amazon
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen, by Shunryu Suzuki ($10) and Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki ($10). It is safe to say that every Zen student has read both of these excellent meditation books.
Taking the Path of Zen, by Robert Aitken, ($10) This is the ‘how-to-meditate” book that you’ve been looking for, with detailed instructions about establishing meditation in your daily life.
Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation, by Alan Watts, ($10) and also available on CD ($13). The book is a transcription of Zen meditation talks given during the mature years of his life. They are deep and revealing.
The Way of Zen, by Alan Watts ($10) This classic book from the man who inspired America’s beat poets gives the history and philosophy of Zen better than any other book.
Links
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi founded the San Francisco Zen Center, the Tassajara retreat center, and Green Gulch farm. All three accept overnight guests and offer a rich array of meditation training programs. www.sfzc.com
Robert Aitken founded the Diamond Sangha zen centers in Hawaii. www.diamondsangha.org
Alan Watts lived from 1915 to 1973. During the 1960's, he gave a weekly radio lecture on Zen Buddhism, taught, and is credited with introducing the 'Beat' poets to zen. He is one of the most popular writers about meditation, even today. His life and writings are detailed a www.alanwatts.com. Many of his lectures were recorded and are available on cassette, DVD, or CD though Amazon.
Zenspace is an online directory of zen documents and resources maintained by a volunteer.
