zen

To Take the Posture is the Purpose of the Practice

"These forms are not a means of obtaining the right state of mind. To take this posture itself is the purpose of our practice. When you have this posture, you have the right state of mind, so there is no need to try to attain some special state. When you try to attain something, your mind starts to wander about somewhere else. When you do not try to attain anything, you have your own body and mind right here." ~Shunry Suzuki in Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind … [Read more...] about To Take the Posture is the Purpose of the Practice

To Be More Mindful, Try Emptying the Mind

Shunryu Suzuki in Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: When you study Buddhism you should have a general house cleaning of your mind. Despite a few classes in college on Buddhism, I am by no means an expert on Zen philosophy. Inspired by the minimalist tradition, however, I occasionally have Zen-like moments and find myself thinking about meditation or cleaning off one of my many desks in hopes of discovering some sort of nirvanic bliss by the very act of hiding junk in drawers. In a world crammed … [Read more...] about To Be More Mindful, Try Emptying the Mind

Airplane Yoga for Holiday Travelers

Traveling during the upcoming holidays has its plusses and minuses. You know it will be great to see family and friends, but the enhanced airport security measures stress you out. Then there’s sitting in a safety-oriented airplane seat that was not built for comfort. With a few planning tips and yoga poses to do at the boarding gate and on the plane you can arrive feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Whether you're going home for the holidays or are jetting off to a yoga retreat … [Read more...] about Airplane Yoga for Holiday Travelers

Ensō – The Art of the Zen Buddhist Circle

While surfing the web tonight I came across a magnificently simple Zen image that transfixed my mind. Of course I've seen ensō before (Zen circles)--kind of hard to miss since I live in Japan--but tonight the image apparently worked its enlightening effect upon me. It took me by surprise. According to Audrey Yoshiko Seo, author of Ensō: Zen Circles of Enlightenment: "Zen circles, ensō, are symbols of teaching, reality, enlightenment, and a myriad of things in between. Seemingly perfect in … [Read more...] about Ensō – The Art of the Zen Buddhist Circle