What is the purpose of Shikantaza?
quiet sitting in open awareness, reflecting directly the reality of life. Shikantaza is often termed a goalless meditation in quiet awareness, not working on any koan, or counting the breath. It is an alert condition, performed erect, with no trace of sluggishness or drowsiness.
What does zazen meditation do?
Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, is a meditation technique rooted in Buddhist psychology. The goal of Zen meditation is to regulate attention. 1 It’s sometimes referred to as a practice that involves “thinking about not thinking.”
How do you practice Shikantaza?
All you should do is try and keep your back relatively straight (in other words, don’t slouch in a recliner). Place your hands on your thighs, close your eyes, and feel your breathing. Concentrate on the fact that you are breathing. Feel your in-breaths; feel your out-breaths.
How long should I sit zazen?
Maezen recommends doing zazen for up to five minutes to begin. As you meditate more often, you might be able to sit longer. “Do not be self-critical or impatient with yourself,” she cautions.
How do you do Shikantaza?
How do you do Shikantaza meditation?
Just sit, let the thoughts come and go, and, when you get lost, come back to your breath, again. Don’t worry about how long you’re sitting, don’t worry about what you need to put in 15 minutes or an hour or a day. Just be with yourself, allow yourself to have that time to just sit.
Did Buddha do zazen?
Zazen refers to sitting meditation. It’s a meditative practice that’s meant to give insight into your true nature of being. Zazen originates from the teachings of Buddha, who lived in India 2,500 years ago and founded the religion and philosophy of Buddhism.
How do I practice zazen?
To practice Zazen, you need to be sitting upright and attentive. This posture helps you keep your awareness on the body and the present moment. If possible, sit facing a wall. You should be balanced between staying grounded and being open.