imagine a state where the mind is like a tranquil Lake reflecting the universe without Distortion a place where the search for truth is not found in books or Legends but in the direct experience of being welcome to the world of Zen Buddhism a path that cannot be explained but must be lived today we will explore the history philosophy and practices of Zen a tradition that unites the found with the simple discipline with spontaneity and understand how this is the simplest path for those seeking Enlightenment the history of Zen Buddhism begins in India with the Awakening
of sidartha Gama the Buddha around the fth century bcee his teachings spread across Asia but it was in China during the 6th Century that Zen as we know it today began to to take shape Buddhism traveled along the Silk Road encountering taism in China this interaction gave rise to Chan later called Zen in Japan at the center of this history is bodhidharma the Indian monk who brought a radical approach silent meditation as the heart of spiritual practice although little is known about his life he is considered the 28th patriarch of Indian Buddhism and the founder
of Chan in China the precursor to Zen Buddhism according to Legend bodhidharma left India and crossed the Himalayas into China carrying not only the Buddhist teachings but also a revolutionary message Awakening is not achieved through scriptures or rituals but through direct experience and deep meditation upon arriving in China bodhidharma sought Refuge at the famous Shaolin monastery there he found monks who were exhausted and unmotivated to revitalize them he taught both seated meditation Diana and physical exercises that would later influence traditional martial arts perhaps the most famous aspect of his story is his nine-year meditation facing
a wall this act symbolizes the essence of Zen total focus on introspection and inner silence bodh dhma believed that truth could not be taught only experienced while bodhidharma brought Buddhism to China it was a young monk named dogen zenji who Consolidated Zen Buddhism in Japan transforming it into a profound and unique tradition dogen was born in 1200 into an aristocratic family he lost his parents at a young age leading him to deeply reflect on the impermanence of Life at 13 he entered entered monastic life but soon became restless with a question if all beings possess
Buddha nature why practice dissatisfied with the answers he found in Japan dogen decided to travel to China in search of deeper understanding there he encountered Master ruing of the Chan tradition who completely transformed his comprehension under Ring's guidance dogen experienced Awakening by realizing that practice and enlightenment ment are not separate this teaching became the core of his philosophy zazen or seated meditation is itself the expression of Awakening Upon returning to Japan dogen founded the IH G Monastery which remains one of the primary centers of Zen in the world today there he wrote shobogenzo one of
the most important texts of Zen articulating his insights on the nature of reality time and practice dogen not only brought the practice of zazen to Japan but also emphasized the importance of living each Act with full awareness for him washing a bowl or sweeping the floor were expressions of the path as he said to study the way is to study the self to study the self is to forget the self thanks to dogen zenji Zen Buddhism found its form in Japan remaining faithful to the spirit of Simplicity and depth that Gama Buddha had initiated the
great way of the Buddha is vast and boundless to practice it is to dive into the infinite where there is no beginning or end abandoning discriminations and divisions is to see things as they truly are thus writes dogen zenji emphasizing the Transcendence of dualities and the the union with the true nature of reality for dogen Zen is not something to be understood with the logical mind but lived in every moment he States sitting in zazen is the complete manifestation of Awakening in this simple act the entire universe is revealed here zazen seated meditation is not
an isolated practice but the very expression of the way everything is contained in this present act where mind and body harmonize with the cosmos in another of his writings dogen says time does not pass we pass through time when we understand this the present ceases to be a fleeting instant and becomes eternity this teaching reflects the essence of Zen to fully live the now as a portal to the Eternal Zen Buddhism is above all an experience it challenges the conventions of linear thought and rejects the idea that truth can be captured in words or concepts
as DT Suzuki stated Zen is not an explanation but an experience this focus on Direct experience is what sets Zen apart from other philosophical or religious Traditions at the heart of Zen is the notion that Spiritual Awakening cannot be taught through words or rituals pointing directly to the human mind is one of the key key phrases of the Zen tradition it means that truth is something each individual must discover for themselves without intermediaries or dogmas the philosophy of Zen is deeply rooted in the here and now there is no concern for the past or the
future as the only real moment is the present this principle Echoes In the words of master tishan walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet Every Act no matter how simple can be an expression of Awakening when performed with full awareness another fundamental aspect of Zen is the use of coons enigmas or paradoxes that challenge rational thought one intriguing Kanan asks without moving your lips or tongue say something about Zen this riddle urges the practitioner to abandon dependence on Words and seek direct understanding beyond the limitations of conv conventional reasoning Simplicity is
another Cornerstone of Zen as Master shanu Suzuki teaches the posture is the Awakening there is no need to complicate the spiritual path sitting in silence breathing and being present are enough Zen sees the extraordinary and the ordinary and celebrates the beauty of daily life Zen also challenges the idea of a fixed or separate self in dogen's words to study the way is to study the self to study the self is to forget the self this reflection points to the dissolution of the ego as the path to Unity with the whole ultimately Zen is an experience
of Freedom it is not something to be understood with the mind but to be lived as an old zen proverb States before Enlightenment chop wood and carry water after Enlightenment chop wood and carry water life does not change but our perception of it is radically transformed in Japan Zen profoundly influenced daily life transforming common activities into spiritual practices chanoyu or the Tea Ceremony is a classic example of this integration each step of the ceremony from preparation to consuming the tea is performed with mindfulness and respect reflecting Zen philosophy's emphasis on living the present moment with
Simplicity and Harmony this ritual goes beyond serving te it is a meditation in motion where every gesture expresses the essence of Zen similarly Zen has influenced Arts such as calligraphy and gardening in calligraphy each stroke must be executed with full awareness and spontaneity as there is no room for Corrections each brushstroke reflects the artist's inner State at that moment in Zen Gardens Stones sand and plants are arranged to create a landscape that evokes tranquility and introspection inviting silent contemplation these practices show how Zen permeates daily life transforming ordinary tasks into opportunities for profound connection this
is the difference between an ordinary person and a Buddha serving tea time is a Continuum without beginning or end practicing the way means being completely present in the moment we are in this very instant is eternity itself and when we fully surrender to it there is no separation between time and ourselves everything that exists is here now these are the words of dogen zenji in his teachings in another moment do emphasized the Here and Now is not something that comes or goes the present is the full manifestation of the way by living this moment we
are realizing the entirety of time true practice does not happen elsewhere but exactly where we are now these words highlight that the present is not merely a fleeting point between past and future but the very essence of reality in Zen the concept of Here and Now goes beyond philosophical musings it is a living practice zazen or seated meditation is one of the most direct ways to experience this full presence during zazen the practitioner does not get lost in thoughts about what has passed or what is yet to come but remains aware of the breath the
body and existence itself in the present moment as a Zen proverb States the moment you sit the whole world sits with you mindfulness of the present extends to Everyday activities in Zen simple tasks such as washing a bowl or sweeping the floor become opportunities to live in the here and now this reflects the teaching that there is no separation between spiritual practice and ordinary life as Master tishan said when washing the dishes just wash wash the dishes the act itself is not as important as the quality of presence brought to it this focus on the
present also frees the practitioner from the suffering caused by fixation on the past or anxiety about the future Zen invites us to let go of these attachments and experience the freedom that comes from being fully immersed in the reality of now the now is all we have Zen Masters teach and by recognizing this we find profound peace and Clarity the Here and Now is therefore the gateway to Enlightenment there is no need to seek something far away or wait for the ideal moment as an ancient Coan teaches when you walk just walk when you eat
just eat this Simplicity encapsulates the depth of Zen living each moment fully is the realization of the way [Music] itself zazen is the central practice of Zen Buddhism a deep meditation aiming to guide the practitioner to a direct experience of reality Beyond discursive thought and distractions the term zazen comes from Japanese where zah means sitting and Zen means meditation thus zazen is simply seated meditation but its meaning goes far beyond the physical action it is a state of full mindfulness absolute presence in the moment where the practitioner lets go of the constant flow of thoughts
and opens to an experience of Simplicity and depth zazen is not just a meditation technique but a true philosophy of life it teaches us to transcend The Duality between subject and object dissolving the boundaries between the meditator and the world the practice of zazen is a path to Liberation and spiritual awakening as it aims to achieve satui the direct insight into the nature of the mind and reality as then Master dogen explained sitting in zazen is the practice of Buddhism and the practice of Buddhism is the practice of our life for dogen the simple Act
of sitting correctly can bring Awakening because true practice is is not merely a technique but a deep dive into the present while zazen is simple in form it is profound and challenging beginners may find it difficult to keep their minds calm and focused but it's important to understand that the practice is not about suppressing thoughts or controlling the Mind instead it is about observing those thoughts without clinging to them if you feel anxious simply observe the anxiety and invited to meditate with you choose a quiet place a peaceful environment free from distractions many practitioners use
a small altar with incense and a Buddha image but this is not essential silence and calm are the key elements sit in a comfortable yet alert position traditionally a round cushion called a zafu is used but you can also use any firm cushion or a meditation bench the posture should be stable and upright with the spine straight head and neck aligned as if a string were pulling the crown of your head upward main sitting positions full Lotus both feet rest on the opposite thighs this Advanced posture requires flexibility half Lotus one foot rests on the
opposite thigh and the other stays on the floor burmes position legs are crossed both feet resting on the floor without overlapping this is more accessible for beginners the hands rest in the lap Palms up forming a circle with the thumb tips touching creating the cosmic mudra this position helps Center attention The Gaze is gently focused on a point in front with eyes slightly closed to avoid visual distractions breathing is a fundamental aspect of zazen it should be slow and deep helping the mind to calm and anchor itself in the present observing the sensation of air
entering and leaving the body the core of zazen practice is shikantaza which translates to just sitting during zazen there is no striving for a specific state or effort to control the mind the goal is simply to be present free from expectations or [Music] judgments contrary to the misconception that meditation requires a mental guard to control thoughts zazen teaches that there is no guard the practitioner observes thoughts without clinging to them thoughts come and go like clouds in the sky while the meditator observes them with full awareness without identification as zen master hawen said when you
feel yourself heading toward a goal stop and let it go there is no goal only the Here and Now zazen can last from 20 minutes to an hour or more beginners are advised to start with shorter sessions and gradually increase adding one minute per day daily practice is essential meditation should not be seen as an isolated event but as a way of life the goal is is not to accumulate meditation hours but to cultivate a constant state of presence and awareness in daily life the Zen philosopher shunu Suzuki wrote in his famous book Zen mind
beginner's mind in zazen you should just be without clinging to the idea of achieving something this beginner's mind free from preconceived notions is the ideal state for zazen where the practitioner finds freedom in the simple Act of sitting Zen teaches that Enlightenment is not something to be sought externally but something already present waiting to be recognized through consistent practice and full [Music] presence thus we conclude this exploration Into the Heart of Zen Buddhism the teaching of the Here and Now is not just a philosophy or spiritual practice but an invitation to live life with fullness
awareness and and simplicity in the instant we realize that everything is contained in the present moment we discover true Freedom if the words of dogen zenji and the Zen Masters resonated with you remember that the Zen Journey Begins exactly where you are no need to go anywhere or achieve something distant Enlightenment is in every step every breath every act lived with mindfulness thank you for joining us us on this journey if you enjoyed this content leave a comment and share your Reflections may your practice in the here and now be a source of infinite peace
and clarity thank you for watching
