Meditation Techniques

Meditation Techniques
"The natural goal for anyone beginning meditation is to experience some real degree of stillness. It is easier said than done. How many of us continue would continue to meditate without getting some sense of the benefits? In the beginning that obvious benefit is some sense of peace. One needs to experience a degree of peace and relaxation that can be without a doubt attributed to the fact that one has meditated."

Copper Pyramids

Beginner's Mind Workshop, presented by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi

A good intro to Zen and intro to meditation, with detailed instructions. Zen 101, if you will. It's a little long, but good. Here's a part near the end:

In this moment, the colours are as they are, the sounds are as they are. When you stand up, you stand up. When you sit down, you sit down. And so there is a simplicity and a clarity that is present in this moment which is not based on simplifying things, in terms of trying to get rid of complexity. Instead, the complexity happens when we are not aware of the richness of our experience of this moment. The simplicity of this moment consists of richness which has many different facets and many different capabilities. In this moment, we are able to see, we are able to hear, we are able to move, we are able to think, we are able to feel and if we can allow the energy of our attention to express itself as the whole of our experience, rather than fragments, that means that we will have all of our energy available to us right now. We will be able to do whatever needs to be done without hesitation, without fear, without rehearsing, but just simply doing it.

So no matter how complex our experience might be, at the same time there is a simplicity which is available to us. There is a clarity which is available to us. This is not something outside of us; this is not something that we need to gain. This is not something that we need to fabricate or acquire or manufacture in any kind of way. It is simply something that we need to wake up to. And so this is called "Zen", which is a form of Buddhist practice.

Read about Zen Buddhism

Somewhat a "crash course" in Zen, there's lots to read here. Then again, it's Friday and unlikely you were going to get anything done today anyway.

"Zen is known for rejection of reliance on written texts. In spite of this, monks are well versed in Buddhism's ideas and texts. It's the old story of knowing the rules before you break them."

Essentials of Buddhism - core concepts

A Buddhism "cheat sheet" that begins, of course, with:

"Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path "

A journey within: one reporter's experience with Zen - News

A newcomer learns about Zen.

I count: In (one). Out (two). In (three). Out (four). In (five). Out (six)… I think about classes, about my fiction workshop. How can I develop my unnamed character? Why didn't I name her? Oh, right - breathing.

Blue Lotus Sangha, "What is Zen"

Another Zen 101 page. I like these since it's a place to point people interested in Zen, along with a few good books if they remain interested. This one is very short, and contains this nugget:

“What do you mean that Zen does not focus on deities or the afterlife?” This means that when asked the question “Does God exist?” Zen would reply: “Just breathe.” A prominent Zen master was once asked if reincarnation was true. He replied: “We don’t know. No one has ever come back and told us about it. We don’t worry about it.” Live in the moment. Breathe.