![]() Water and waves are one." - from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki-roishi. To speak of waves apart from water or water apart from waves is a delusion. "Even though waves arise, the essence of your mind is pure it is just like clear water with a few waves. It appears as if something comes from outside your mind, but actually it is only the waves of your mind, and if you are not bothered by the waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer." When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. If something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. "When you are practicing zazen, do not try to stop your thinking. That would be impossible anyway, as Shunryu Suzuki-roishi explains when he speaks about zazen (sitting meditation), So, the purpose of Zen meditation isn't to put an end to the activity of mind. Calming the mind is just one part of the story. But the ultimate goal of Zen isn't seeking or clinging to peace. Zen meditation may calm your mind, bring more clarity, and infuse you with greater kindness. When you are not involved in this way of thinking, you have some chance of understanding what Zen experience is." - from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki-roishi. ![]() …Enlightenment cannot be asked for in your ordinary way of thinking. It is experience or consciousness beyond those distinctions or feelings. ![]() We talk about enlightenment experience, but it is not some experience we will have in terms of good or bad, time or space, past or future. "We say "big mind," or "small mind," or "Buddha mind," or "Zen mind," and these words mean something, you know, but something we cannot and should not try to understand in terms of experience. Zen mind cannot be understood from the perspective of our ordinary, dualistic mind. This is the purpose of all Zen teaching-to make you wonder and to answer that wondering with the deepest expression of your own nature." - from the introduction to Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki-roishi. "Zen mind is one of those enigmatic phrases used by Zen teachers to make you notice yourself, to go beyond the words and wonder what your own mind and being are. At the same time, it's almost impossible to put your finger on true Zen. But what we actually mean is quite opposite." This kind of misunderstanding I think you will have about Zen. ![]() Even though you are doing something wrong, that is Zen. "And this misunderstanding-the misunderstanding you have about Zen, I think-when we say: Zen, oh, Zen is wonderful. In these Zen quotes, the great spiritual master Shunryu Suzuki-roishi explains the deeper meaning of Zen. It's not uncommon to misunderstand Zen even when you study and practice it. The word Zen is derived from the Chinese word "chán" and the sanskrit word "dhyana," which mean "meditation." In sanskrit, the root meaning is "to see, to observe, to look." Zen is practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam although there are many Zen meditation centers in Europe and the United States as well. "Zen" is actually shorthand for Zen Buddhism. If you’re curious about the official Zen definition, according to the Random House Dictionary 2010, Zen is "…a Mahayana movement, introduced into China in the 6th century and into Japan in the 12th century, that emphasizes enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means." It is a living lineage of tradition passed on since the time of the Buddha. It’s the essence of wisdom and compassion embodied in Zen masters like Shunryu Suzuki-roishi and Thich Nhat Hahn. It’s a path to fully awaken to your original nature, which is present right here, right now. So what is Zen? Zen is a remarkable wisdom tradition. In reality, true Zen is far beyond concepts. These are merely popular concepts about Zen. Pirsig known for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.īut just to set the record straight, Zen is not… Some people genuinely try to express what they believe to be the meaning of Zen via their work or blog. Others may simply be riding on the popularity of Zen Habits, with its more than two million readers.Īnd some credit for the popularity of the word should go to the icons who introduced Zen into mainstream consciousness starting in the '50's: Jack Kerouac with the book The Dharma Bums, the philosopher and writer Alan Watts, the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, and Robert M. "Zen" is being linked to everything from copywriting, web design, and business strategy to personal development, food, fitness, clothing lines, and far more. Every time I turn around there's a new blog or business with "Zen" in its title or name.
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