What is Zen?
The word zen has become widely known in Western culture through its presence in such forms of contemporary expression as jazz, dance and literature.zen It has also gained a cult following among practitioners of Buddhism, although its general application can carry orientalizing overtones.
Zen emphasizes a direct, experiential approach to reality.zen Its emphasis on the immediate present of things infuses each experience with a sense of the whole; it also understands that parts and the whole are in an inseparable relationship. This is the meaning of a central Zen concept, "not two," which designates the collapse of dualism in one's everyday lifeworld. Zen interprets this emergence of a holistic perspective as a result of the de-ontologization and de-substantialization of all polar concepts such as one and many, existence and nonexistence, being and nonbeing, universality and particularity, transcendence and immanence, birth and death.
During meditation, a practitioner is encouraged to allow images and thoughts to flow through his mind without judgment or attachment. This practice is called shikantaza, and it is an essential part of the zazen form of zen meditation. It is important to position the head in a manner that does not cause strain in the neck. Ideally, the spine and the neck should align in a straight line. Tucking the chin in can help achieve this position.
After a period of intense meditation, a practitioner is said to have achieved the state of no-mind (mushin). This is not to be understood as a mindless or lost state. Rather, no-mind refers to the experiential dimension in which the ego-logically discriminatory activity of the mind disappears. This dimension is often experienced as an infinity of nows, each now containing within itself a past, a present and an infinite future. It is the state in which clairvoyance, clairaudience and retrocognition can occur.
Another aspect of zen is the teaching of nondiscriminatory wisdom (prajna). This teaches that all phenomena are intrinsically luminous and transparent. It is the wisdom that allows the meditator to see all of the components in a situation and realize that there is no separation between a person and his environment. It is a way of seeing that liberates a person from the tyranny of self-deception and gives him a chance to be free from karma.
A key component of the zen path is shikantaza, a seated meditation that requires no object to meditate on or anchoring thought. This form of meditation is known in Japanese as shikantaza-no-san, or just sitting. Sit in a posture that is comfortable and not too stiff, and place your hands in the Cosmic Mudra, which can be done either in full lotus, half lotus or seiza positions. The tips of the thumbs should touch each other, and your palms should be facing upwards. You should also tuck your chin in to avoid neck strain. Then simply relax and let your body settle into its natural state. Then your mind will follow suit.