What is Zen?
Understanding Zen Practice
Understanding Zen Teachings
Over the next several weeks I would like to explore deeper and further into Zen and Zen Meditation (Zazen), as I feel the teachings from this school can profoundly impact ones life and greatly help one in their spiritual evolution. Fortunately Zen teachings have been spread far and wide by many recent Zen Masters and so are now more easily accessible to us all.
The 2 zen masters who I would certainly recommend for those looking to understand what Zen is and how to practice it, are Charlotte Joko Beck and Shunryu Suzuki. The respective books by each that are excellent sources of Zen teachings are Everyday Zen, Love and Work and the classic, Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind. On the website itself, there are many articles on Zen teachings and techniques, and you can find them in the following category: Zen Buddhism.
The key to understanding Zen, like all profound spiritual approaches, comes from practicing it for oneself, and the heart of Zen practice is Zen Meditation or Zazen. You will find video and written instructions on how to practice Zazen in the following 2 articles:
Zen Meditation Technique
How to Meditate By Yourself (Zazen Practice)
For those who are new to Zen and looking for an introduction to what this spiritual path is all about, I would like to share the following excerpt from a talk by Zen Master Sheng-yen. The full excerpt is available on the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association website.