Zen is a word inherited from the Chinese word Chan, which itself is a mutation of the word Jhana in Pali, and is translated into English as “meditation”. Zen is a practice of calming and stilling the mind, while cultivating the faculty of mindfulness to illuminate the quality of the practitioner’s own true nature. Through quiet stillness, the mind becomes clear and free from delusion; through mindfulness, we have the capacity to see what remains when our own mental delusions fall away.
The practice begins by taking up the meditation posture, either in the full lotus, the half lotus, or the Burmese posture (see link for images). It is also acceptable to kneel, or sit in a chair. Sitting upright, in a dignified posture, the practitioner brings energy and alertness to his or her practice. With eyes open or closed, begin with one of the basic practices such as counting the breath. Beginning with one, count each exhale up to 10. If you lose track, kindly and without self-judgement, return to 1. It may be difficult to get all the way to 10, but you can’t help that. It is just where your mind is at the moment. With daily practice, you will find it becomes easier and easier to still the mind, and as the mind becomes more still, you will find joy and appreciation in your practice.
To learn more about the various meditation postures, continue to the original article at the Zen Mountain Monastery’s website here