| There is quite a bit of talk these days in | | | | everything that they encounter and try to |
| the media about meditation and spiritual | | | | enliven their senses by paying attention to |
| enlightenment. Some might even think it is a | | | | everything that they might hear, see, smell, |
| rather trendy thing to "be into," yet it is | | | | feel and taste. |
| doubtful that it will be one of those passing | | | | |
| fads of the pop culture. The fact is that | | | | Another way of expressing this concept is by |
| there are numerous methods of meditation, | | | | attempting to be completely and fully aware, |
| such as Zen meditation, that have been part | | | | while engaged in any activity, at any |
| of other cultures for generations, so it is | | | | particular moment. Some people also call |
| not likely to be a passing craze, no matter | | | | this, "living in the moment" or "living |
| how little Western culture truly understands | | | | consciously." The idea is to "become at one" |
| it. | | | | with whatever they are currently engaged in |
| | | | doing. |
| There are numerous meditation techniques that | | | | |
| people who are interested and want to learn | | | | Some examples of this would be: when eating, |
| to meditate can choose from. While all forms | | | | the practitioner is totally focused on the |
| of mediation have some commonalities, the | | | | meal and their actions involved in eating; |
| techniques do differ based on what part of | | | | when they are engaged in a Zen mediation |
| the world and what culture the particular | | | | session, they stay concentrated on the |
| practice is rooted in. Zen meditation has | | | | reality of that moment and they do not allow |
| developed out of Zen Buddhism. It is also | | | | their thoughts, their feelings, or their |
| known as Zazen and incorporates various | | | | sensations to preoccupy or distract them; |
| seated positions, special breathing | | | | when they are engaged in work, they only |
| techniques and chakras. | | | | work; when doing routine tasks such as |
| | | | brushing their teeth, they focus on that task |
| The discipline of Zen meditation is | | | | and do not let their minds wander to think |
| essentially focused on enabling the | | | | about other things. |
| practitioner to live their daily lives in | | | | |
| complete awareness of themselves and their | | | | While the Zen practitioner does not have to |
| surroundings. Through the practice of this | | | | be engaged in meditation all day, every day, |
| meditation approach, people can escape from | | | | regular meditation practice helps to calm, |
| the "auto-pilot" existence that is so | | | | center and focus the mind so that the person |
| prevalent and which robs people of | | | | is able to focus and retain keen awareness. |
| experiencing their lives fully. | | | | The Zen practice recognizes that all thoughts |
| | | | are a natural and beneficial function of the |
| When people fall into the trap of operating | | | | human mind and that thought should not be |
| primarily on automatic pilot, they rarely | | | | ignored, rejected or stopped. Instead, the |
| notice all of the things that are happening | | | | practice allows wandering thoughts to be |
| around them; even within their own minds and | | | | acknowledged then set to the side, keeping |
| hearts. This certainly can interfere with a | | | | the mind from being carried away by |
| person's ability to be enlivened spiritually | | | | anxieties, worries, fears and other |
| or to be on the path to spiritual | | | | discursive notions. |
| development. Zen meditation can help to break | | | | |
| the cycle of automatic living and help a | | | | This method of meditation practice allows the |
| person to engage more fully in their own | | | | person to enjoy a sense of liberation from |
| life. | | | | the "pollution" of negative thoughts that can |
| | | | often cloud the mind and confuse thinking. |
| Through Zen meditations, people experience | | | | Zen meditation helps to alleviate unnecessary |
| each moment of a day directly and with | | | | suffering of the mind and allows the person |
| awareness and responsiveness. They | | | | to focus on truth, clarity and spiritual |
| consciously practice being aware of | | | | enlightenment. |