Definition of zazen

definition of zazen by The Free Dictionary

Also found in: Wikipedia.

za·zen

(zä′zĕn′)

The primary form of meditation in Zen Buddhism, practiced while sitting cross-legged.

[Japanese : za, to sit down (from Early Middle Chinese dzwa'; also the source of Mandarin zuò) + zen, silent meditation; see Zen.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

zazen

(zʌzɛn)

(Buddhism) (in Zen Buddhism) deep meditation undertaken whilst sitting upright with legs crossed

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

References in periodicals archive ?

Also known as 'Zazen', the meditation technique involves observing and letting go of your thoughts and feelings as they pass; for this reason it's sometimes referred to as "thinking about not thinking".

How you can stay calm now and zen

Other facilities include a Japanese restaurant, large communal baths/outdoor baths, Zen garden, and multi-purpose room where guests can practice zazen meditation.

Fujita Kanko Opens 'Hakujukan,' a Hybrid Zen Temple Lodging, in Fukui, Japan; \With Designated Zen Concierge, New Accommodation Offers Authentic Zen Experience

One can achieve this state by clearing the mind of all thoughts through the practice of zazen meditation.

El Ser sin el Yo: budismo zen e (in)satisfacciones posmodernas en A Tale for the Time Being, de Ruth Ozeki

I learned Transcendental Meditation and then learned and began to practice zazen. I experienced a sense of freedom in leaving Christianity behind me.

To Zen and Back: A PILGRIMAGE TO KNOW HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

The birthday dinner on the beach at the ZaZen resort, was conceptualised, planned, arranged, organised and supervised by the two young adults without giving moi a whiff of what was in store.

IT'S A DOUBLE NELSON

Simple changes--like waking up 15 minutes earlier than usual to savor the morning, or creating a pocket of quiet at work by doing a "chair zazen" (sitting up straight and breathing slowly)--will make a difference in your daily flow.

A full set of tools for a fulfilling life: Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your outlook--to cultivate new habits and attitudes that can lead to a more satisfying life. These four inspiring books are designed to help you thrive. Here's to new possibilities!

A practitioner of Zazen meditation Eckhart did not talk about mysterious energies, infinite souls or positive intentions.

A rose by another name

The meditation central to Zen, called zazen, involves a more "choiceless awareness" rather than the single-object concentration developed through mindfulness, but its goal is the same: to experience the world fully through the present moment.

Creativity through Silence: Exploring the Use of Meditation in Musical Performance

Zazen Salon Spa has been acquired by Marvin and Lannea Riggs.

Bellingham salon/spa gets new owners

That's Zen in a nutshell-and You don't have to be students of a Zen roshi and live in a monastery to undergo rigorous zazen and koan conditioning to appreciate its basic lessons.

Embracing life as it comes

Dictionary browser ?

▲
Zardari
zareba
zarf
zari
Zaria
zarnec
Zarnich
Zarontin
Zarpanit
Zarqa
Zarqa'
Zarthe
zarzuela
zastruga
zastrugi
zati
Zatlers
Zátopek
Zátopek Emil
Zauschneria
Zauschneria californica
zax
z-axis
Zayat
zayin
zazen
ZB
ZB station
Z-bar
Z-bed
Zbit
Zc
ZCC
ZDV
Zea
Zea mays
Zea mays amylacea
Zea mays everta
Zea mays indentata
Zea mays indurata
Zea mays rugosa
Zea saccharata
zeal
Zealand
Zealander
Zealant
Zealed
zealful
zealless
zealot
Zealotical
▼

Full browser ?

▲
Zaya Pandita
Zayandeh River
Zayandeh rud
Zayas, Alfredo
Zayat
Zaydan, Jirji
Zaydiyyah
Zaydiyyah
Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-Up
Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine
Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works
Zayed Sports City
Zayed University
Zayed University Learning Outcomes
Zayed University Media Center
zayin
zayin
Zayin (letter)
Zayin (letter)
Zayn
Zayn
Zayo Managed Services
Zaysan
Zaysan, Lake
Zaytun
Zaytun
Zaz
Zazau
Zazau
Zazau
zazen
Zazhinki
Zazou 'N' Racaille
Zazou Mini Web Server
Zazzau
Zazzau
Zazzo, Rene
Zazzo, René
ZB
ZB
ZB
ZB
ZB station
ZBA
ZBA
Zbanatskii, Iurii
Zbanatskii, Iurii Oliferovich
Zbaraz
Zbarazh
Zbarj
Zbarskii, Boris Ilich
ZBB
ZBB
ZBBC
ZBBKI
ZBC
zBC12
ZBCA
ZBCG
ZBCH
ZBCL
▼

Zazen Meditation: Benefits, Practice, and More

Understanding Zazen

Zazen refers to sitting meditation. It’s a meditative practice that’s meant to give insight into your true nature of being.

Zazen originates from the teachings of Buddha, who lived in India 2,500 years ago and founded the religion and philosophy of Buddhism. These teachings were brought to schools of Chinese Buddhism and then to Japan.

The aim of the practice is to let go of all judgement and goals. The meditator is aware of all sensations and thoughts that arise and pass by. Meditation is the practice of seeing things as they really are and being aware that everything is temporary. It allows you to do this by focusing on the present moment.

Meditation can improve your life and self in profound ways, and it allows you to develop concentration of mind.

Keep reading to learn more about Zazen meditation and five common types of practice.

How to sit

To practice Zazen, you need to be sitting upright and attentive. This posture helps you keep your awareness on the body and the present moment. If possible, sit facing a wall. You should be balanced between staying grounded and being open. Half lotus and full lotus are ideal postures for Zazen.

If you can’t sit like this, you can try a different position.

Sit in Burmese position, with one ankle in front of the other.
Sit back on your heels and use a meditation cushion for support.
Sit on a chair or stool with your feet flat on the ground.

What to do with your hands

Bring your hands into a mudra of your choice. Try these options:

Put the backs of your palms on your thighs if you’re in a lotus position.
Place the right hand on top of the left hand with your palms facing up, arranging your fingers so they are pointing to the side.
Place the small fingers against your lower belly, gently pressing the tips of your thumbs together above the palms of your hand.

Keeping your awareness on your hands can help you stay focused and alert.

How to keep your posture

Keep your shoulder blades engaged without tensing your shoulders. To do this, keep your head straight and your chin tucked in slightly toward your chest. Your spine should be straight with a tilt in the lower back. You’ll feel weighted and grounded in the lower part of your body, and your upper body will feel light.

Place the tip of your tongue at the front of the top of your mouth. Keep your teeth together and your lips shut.

Don’t completely close your eyes or open them wide, either. Keep a soft gaze ahead of you.

What to do with your breath

Your thoughts have a direct effect on your breath. Keeping your awareness on each breath as it rises and passes can help you stay present.

Remember:

Feel the breath instead of watching or following it.
Focus your mind by bringing your attention back to each breath when your mind wanders.
Breathe as you normally would so your breath stays natural.
Keep your belly soft and relaxed.

How to keep your mind focused

Your thoughts will probably fluctuate, moving and jumping all over the place. Use the stillness of your body and the rhythm of your breath to stabilize your mind.

Remember:

Always be gentle with yourself as you seek to quiet or steady the mind.
Any force on your part will be met with resistance of the mind.
Allow yourself to become an observer. Sit still as your thoughts run their course.

Other tips

Your formal practice is your seated meditation, and your other practice is to bring what you learn from it into every aspect of your life. Use the same awareness you have in seated meditation as you go about your day.

There’s no set schedule for how much time you need to dedicate to your practice. You have to create your own practice and decide how much time you can dedicate.

For example, start with an attainable time of 10 to 30 minutes per day. On days when you have more time to meditate you can increase the amount of time. As you develop in your practice, you may find it necessary to devote large blocks of time to meditation.

It’s best to seek out a qualified teacher who can guide you through the practices. You may find it beneficial to meditate in a group, at least from time to time.

Now that you’ve learned how to focus your mind and position your body, let’s explore the five common types of Zazen meditation.

Bompu means “ordinary.” This meditation is suitable for all people. Bompu Zen has no philosophical or religious content. It’s thought that practicing Bompu Zen can improve physical and mental health by bringing about feelings of happiness and well-being. It has no negative side effects.

Bompu Zen can teach you to concentrate and to control and calm your mind. You can learn how to restrain your thoughts, resist temptations, and get rid of attachments. Bompu Zen allows for intellect, feeling, and will to develop. It helps cultivate your personality and strength of character. It allows you the strength to face any difficulty in your life with ease.

The following therapeutic practices can be considered Bompu Zen:

martial arts
Taoist longevity practices
Noh theatre
Zen arts
most forms of modern Western meditation

Gedo translates to mean “outside way” and refers to teachings outside of the Buddhist tradition. It also means outside the normal experience of your life.

Gedo Zen is connected to religion and philosophy. Instead of Buddhism, Gedo Zen relates to Hindu yoga, Confucian sitting practices, and Christian contemplation practices. It doesn’t adopt Zen Buddhism in a formal way, but it does use components of it.

Gedo Zen is frequently practiced to develop powers or skills not available to the average person. The intent is to reach an altered state of consciousness or perform physical feats of which you’re not normally capable.

Shojo literally means small vehicle. It focuses on the teaching of moving from illusion into enlightenment. It’s a small vehicle because it’s meant only for you. You’re responsible only for yourself and your own peace of mind.

This type of meditation allows you to examine the cause of any suffering and confusion. It’s an exploration of the world around you through direct experience. Shojo Zen is Buddhist, but it differs from Buddha’s highest teaching. Through awareness, you learn that you are part of a whole and not separate from anything.

Shojo Zen is for people who believe in the dual nature of reality and see themselves as separate from the whole. Shojo Zen believes that some states of mind are better than others and practitioners should strive to achieve equanimity.

Daijo Zen is known as the great practice. It’s a truly Buddhist Zen that allows you to see your true nature in each moment. It’s the type of Zen that was taught by Buddha.

Daijo Zen allows you to understand that you are inseparable from all beings. You learn that you affect everyone else, and they affect you. This understanding allows for deeper intimacy and compassion.

Daijo Zen teaches you to break free from the illusions of the world to experience an absolute, undifferentiated reality. You learn to remove boundaries and limitations. It focuses on the nature of the self and is a religion of enlightenment.

It teaches you to awaken and actualize your true nature. The more you practice this technique, the more you’ll want to practice it and feel the need to do so.

Saijojo Zen is the highest vehicle of Buddhist Zen. It’s said to be the greatest practice because the focus isn’t on trying to realize or achieve anything.

Proper practice of Saijojo brings you back to the essence of your true nature, which is perfect. You refrain from wanting, grasping, or trying to achieve something. Rather, you have faith that you will reach enlightenment from dedicated practice. Its focus is practicing the practice. Your seated practice becomes simply sitting and being. You’re fully awakened to your pure, true nature with this practice.

The variety of choice in Zazen meditation can be beneficial because your needs and focus may change over time. Start with the type that appeals to you most at this time. You can experiment with different types to discover what types best suit you.

Make a commitment to the practice and remember that Zazen isn’t going to help you fly away from reality. Its focus is grounded in the present moment, and it will help you be more balanced and centered. The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to have awareness of the present moment.

Remember that the object is to be aware of what’s happening and not to judge it as good or bad. Zen meditation will get easier over time, as it’s a discipline that can be learned with practice. If you can, seek out a qualified teacher who can help guide your practice.

Sitting meditation (zazen) | Nippon.com

Can you sit down, straighten your back, close your eyes, and meet your true self in the depths of consciousness? Many people aspire to this and practice zazen, sitting meditation.

What is zazen?

Sitting meditation is one of the Buddhist practices aimed at realizing one's true nature, carried out in a sitting position with crossed legs (or in the lotus position), with a straight back and arms folded in front of you.

Now in Japan, zazen is often perceived simply as one of the spiritual practices, not associated only with any particular religion or Buddhist school. Ordinary people can also practice zazen under the guidance of Buddhist monks in temples. In cities, many temples provide the opportunity to learn about this practice, either free of charge or for a small fee, usually up to 1,500 yen. Often the amount of the fee is not set, and in such cases the participant himself decides whether to pay or not, and if he decides to pay, then the amount is determined by himself.

Big Buddha in Kamakura

Correct posture, correct breathing, correct state of mind yourself. The back is straightened, the eyes are half-closed, the mouth is closed, the breathing is abdominal.

When you can breathe deeply through your nose, count your inhalations and exhalations, focusing only on this, and over time, awareness of the process of breathing also disappears.

The most important thing in zazen is correct breathing. The combination of the three elements, correct posture, correct breathing and the correct state of consciousness ( choshin , chosoku , choshin ), calms thoughts and reveals the true original nature of a person. When breathing becomes the essence of a person, the soul and body are emptied, and the surrounding world is perceived in its original reality, unclouded.

One session of meditation is called issue , which corresponds to the burning time of an incense stick (approximately 30-40 minutes).

Wada Tsuyoshi, player of the American baseball team Chicago Cubs, practices zazen at the Enryakuji Monastery on Mount Hiei (©Jiji)

Monk's staff helps meditation school Rinzai (in Zen Buddhism Soto -

kyosaku ). It happens that a person during meditation loses concentration, changes posture, he is overcome by drowsiness - in such cases, a monk watching meditation hits a person on the shoulder with a stick. The purpose of this is to draw attention to the error, and the sound of impacts in the silence of the meditation hall is quite impressive. Of course, they beat not very painfully and without causing injury.

The essence of zazen is to comprehend one's own nature and get rid of delusions, realizing the empty essence of being. Practitioners sit without thoughts, detached from the all-consuming hustle and bustle of everyday life. The peaceful practice of zazen is available to everyone.

See also:
List of Meditation Societies (in English)
Tokeiji Monastery, Kamakura (in English)
Shunkoin Monastery, Kyoto (in English)
Kenninji Monastery, Kyoto (in English)
Enryakuji Monastery, Shiga (English)

Zazen | this... What is Zazen?

Zazen (Jap. 座禅, less common but correct Jap. 坐禅 or Jap. 坐禪, "sitting meditation") is a meditation practice that is fundamental to Zen Buddhism. It is considered the most distinctive feature of the Japanese school soto (where zazen is the only method of achieving satori), but is used by almost all schools Zen in combination with other practices (for example, the Rinzai school).

1 Traits of zazen
2 General Method of Sitting Meditation
3 Notes
4 See also

Traits of Zazen

In contrast to traditional Buddhist meditation, the purpose of which is to achieve satori, the first and main task of zazen is considered to be the calming of the body and a penetrating understanding of the phenomena of existence; only with years of practice can sitting meditation lead to a state of "mindlessness", the awakening and realization of the practitioner's Buddha nature.

Some sources claim that despite its apparent simplicity, this permanent technique is sufficient to achieve enlightenment, which is confirmed by the numerous Japanese monasteries where zazen was the only practice.

General Method for Conducting Sitting Meditation

Traditionally (but not required), zazen is conducted by groups of practitioners in a special room zendo (Japanese: 禅堂, zendo: , "meditation hall") and may be interspersed with periods of so-called "meditation while walking", kinhin (Jap. 経行).

The beginning of the session zazen is traditionally indicated by three hits on a special bell, the end of the session is one hit. Before the start of zazen , practitioners greet fellow practitioners and the master with a ritual bow ( gassho , Jap. 合掌) ^[1].

In Japan, zazen is performed on special cushions zabuton (座布団) placed on top of traditional straw mats. For practice zazen the following positions are used:

kekkafuza (結跏趺坐) - lotus position
hankafuza (半跏趺坐) - half-lotus position
agura
seiza

At present, especially among practicing Europeans, it is often 9Zazen 0060 is done while sitting in a chair with a small pillow placed under the lower back to support the natural curve of the spine.

During meditation, the hands of the practitioners are placed over the shins in a simple "lock" (mudra). The abdominal type of breathing is usually practiced, from the center of gravity of the abdomen ( hara , Japanese, 腹). The eyes are half-closed, never fully closed, and never completely open (to avoid the influence of external factors on the meditator and, at the same time, not to fall into a drowsiness).

As already noted, the main purpose of zazen is to calm the body and mind. This zazen is somewhat different from the meditation practice of achieving enlightenment, which is usually characterized by the concentration of the mind on some object or phenomenon.

Learn more

Definition of zazen