Zazen is not even meditation, by our Western standards,

so deep is its lack of attachment.

In Zazen, there are no goals and you can sit anywhere.

But the place where I participated in this group meditation was ideal and had no distractions.

When my mind has been spinning at full speed for a while,

it seems hard not to look at anything in particular - just emptiness,

but there is no need to focus or concentrate on anything.

In zazen, the breathing should be relaxed, but not controlled or managed;

we just let it happen. In this relaxation, it becomes natural.

The body remains motionless. Like a motionless dance.

 

We sat on pillows and small benches.

Once settled, you remain immobile,

because if the body doesn't move

the mind will gradually fall silent.

When you practice Zazen,

you are not to try to stop thinking.

It will stop by itself.

When something comes to your mind, let it come in,

and let it go out. It will not stay long, unless you attach to it.

When you try to stop your thinking,

it means you're bothered by it.

In Zazen, we are not to be bothered by anything.

It may take quite a while before I find my calm, serene mind in this practice.

Many sensations come, many thoughts and images arise,

but they are said to be just waves of our own mind.

Usually we think of our mind as receiving impressions and experiences from outside,

but that is not a true understanding.

Actually, our mind includes everything.

Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble.

You yourself make the waves in your mind.

If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm.

After a few days of practice, they say I will enjoy it tremendously.

And will see layer upon layer start to drop.

A moment comes when I will simply be there with no mind…

Tags: zazen, za-zen, zazen meditation, group meditation, no-mind