What is Faith in Zen? 

In Zen Buddhism, the concept of faith may be understood in a slightly different way compared to how it is commonly understood in other religious traditions. Zen emphasizes direct experience and personal realization rather than blind belief or reliance on external authorities. Therefore, faith in Zen is often described as a deep trust in oneself and in the practice of meditation, rather than relying on external concepts or doctrines.

In Zen, faith is cultivated through the practice of zazen, which is seated meditation. Through the diligent and dedicated practice of zazen, practitioners develop faith in their own innate wisdom and the potential for awakening or enlightenment. This faith is not based on blind belief but arises from direct experience and insight gained through meditation.

Zen teachings often encourage practitioners to let go of fixed ideas, concepts, and attachments to discover the true nature of reality. Instead of relying on intellectual understanding alone, Zen emphasizes a direct, experiential understanding of truth. Faith in Zen is thus a deep trust in the present moment and in the capacity of one's own mind to directly perceive reality beyond conceptual thinking.

It is important to note that Zen is a diverse tradition, and interpretations of faith may vary among different Zen schools or lineages. Nonetheless, the emphasis on personal experience, direct realization, and trusting one's own wisdom is a common thread in Zen practice.

Zen For Business Samurai

During dokusan (private interview) at one of my retreats on this current trip through Europe, someone brought up the historical fact that samurai warriors used to use Zen practice as a way to hone their fighting skills.

(Click the title link to read the rest at HardCore Zen

Zen gardens provide sense of calm to backyards

Zen gardens provide sense of calm to backyards

Zen gardens are not planned and maintained for the beauty of flowers, says Gordon Nesbitt, nursery manager at Laurel Oak Garden Center in Marlton. “You’ll use rocks, water, architectural elements like gates and lanterns and trees that are manicured,” he said.

“You’ll see more use of symbols than flowers, and trees that have a special message in Asian architecture. There may be a dogwood or a cherry tree, something flowering. It’s all about setting a tone,” Nesbitt said. “Everything is kept in check because the elements help to keep our thoughts simple and to the point.”

Six Zen Koans from Kanye West's GQ Interview

Six Zen Koans from Kanye West's GQ Interview

[discussing being chased by the paparazzi] "I don't have fangs. I'm a porcupine. I'm a blowfish. Like, I'm a—what's the fish that blows up?"

[discussing performing impromptu carpentry at his wedding] "Anyone knows that you cannot pick up tools yourself, because of—what are those rules about the workers?... Yeah, unions. You can't do that. It's illegal. That's false."

[discussing why he married Kim Kardashian] " Like they said in Step Brothers: Never lose your dinosaur. This is the ultimate example of a person never losing his dinosaur."

Click the above link if you can stand more. 

Zen Koans Explained: "Reciting Sutras"

Zen Koans Explained: "Reciting Sutras"

A mildly humorous take on a zen koan.

Stuck! Oh, the Path of Zen

Anyway, the point is that the path of Zen goes from here to here and what we learn to do is be what we are – stay put, in other words.

Interesting post at Sweeping Zen

Patience

Patience

Ichi go, Ichi e

Ichi go, Ichi e

Zen Quotes

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.” ― Rumi This and more can be found here

6 Things I Learned about Myself through 100 Hours of Meditation | Travel Blog - Tripbase

1) My mind constantly chatters

Most of us don’t realize to what extent our minds are on constant overdrive. The mind produces thought after thought after thought, which we often think of as multitasking. However, it’s just monkey mind.

Hit the link to read the rest

Copper Meditation Pyramids for Healing and Relaxation

I have been building meditation pyramids for about twenty years now. It started with an experiment in my Brooklyn, New York apartment with copper wire hanging from the ceiling and pinned to the floor at the proper angles. In this makeshift pyramid I had my first out of body experience.

I had read about them in a book, and started playing around with the wires, and noticed a real change in the energy of my meditation. There was something about the space that it created that was special, though I could not pin it down at the time.

I built various types over the years, including some pretty large ones with all the sides in place out of one-inch copper pipes. In the last several years I refined my design to be collapsible and so portable. You can pull it out and set it up in seconds. I posted the design on my blog as a do-it-yourself meditation pyramid. A year ago, I was asked to build one for someone who didn't feel up to it. I used an Etsy shop to make the purchase official.

Copper meditation pyramids offer a sacred space that limits (if not shutting out altogether) invasive thought forms and negative energy, regardless of its source. It drives us deeper into ourselves. After all, pyre and mid (fire in the middle) says it all. It helps us commune with source.

Copper Pyramid

An Introduction to Zen Book Review

Click on the title of this post to go to the Japan Subculture Research Center, where there is an extensive review of the book, An Introduction to Zen.