Date: 12/09/2023 12/10/2023
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Jason
Sitting Meditation
The True Starting Point of Zen Practice
The true starting point of Zen practice does not lie in techniques or forms, but in the willingness to return to oneself and to the present moment. Zen practice guides the mind out of busyness and confusion, allowing clarity, stability, and inner connection to naturally emerge.
1. What Is Zen Practice?
Zen practice is a method of inner cultivation that stabilizes the body, softens the breath, and observes the mind, gradually bringing it back to a state of calm and awareness. It is not the pursuit of special experiences but a simple and steady training that frees the mind from external noise and internal attachments.
2. The “Inner Foundations” of Zen Practice
1.Willingness to see: Not avoiding or disguising the present state of mind.
2.Stopping automatic reactions: Letting go of emotional and habitual impulses.
3.Soft breathing: Allowing natural breath to calm and steady the mind.
4.Stabilizing the body: Making the body a support for mental settling.
5.Returning to the present: Gently resting attention on the experience of now.
3. The Main Meanings of Zen Practice
1.Seeing the true self: Understanding emotions, thoughts, and habitual patterns.
2.Enhancing inner stability: Remaining steady amid external and internal changes.
3.Reducing stress and anxiety: Shifting the nervous system from tension to ease.
4.Strengthening awareness: Becoming more sensitive to body, mind, and environment.
5.Living more authentically: Acting from clarity rather than being pushed by impulses.
4. Ways to Practice Zen
1.Stable posture: Find a position that is both comfortable and grounded.
2.Breath awareness: Observe the natural flow of inhaling and exhaling.
3.Observing thoughts: Let thoughts rise and fall without chasing or resisting.
4.Body awareness: Notice tension, relaxation, and bodily sensations.
5.Settling into the present: Continuously bringing the mind back to the now.
5. Facts About Zen Practice
Where does Zen truly begin?
In the single moment when one is willing to pause and become aware.
Is a quiet environment necessary?
No. External quiet helps, but true quiet arises inside.
Does Zen require long practice sessions?
No. Five to ten minutes daily is enough to begin meaningful transformation.
Conclusion
The true starting point of Zen practice is the willingness to return to the present and to one’s own mind. When the mind pauses and sees clearly, relaxation, awakening, and calmness naturally appear. Zen practice is not a complex technique, but a simple and profound return that makes life clearer, lighter, and more empowered.
