Zazen

In Zen Buddhism, sitting meditation or zazen (Japanese: 座禅; literally "seated concentration") is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience insight into the nature of existence. While the term originally referred to a sitting practice, it is now commonly used to refer to practices in any posture, such as walking.

Related Topics:
Zen - Buddhism - Japanese - Meditative - Calm - Insight

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In Japan, seated zazen is traditionally performed on a mat called a zabuton while sitting on a cushion called a zafu. The common positions used to sit on the zafu are:

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• kekkafuza (full-lotus)
• hankafuza (half-lotus)
• Burmese (a cross-legged posture in which the ankles are placed together in front of the sitter)
• seiza (a kneeling posture using a bench or zafu)

In addition, it is not uncommon for modern practitioners to sit zazen in a chair, often with a wedge behind the lower back to help maintain the natural curve of the spine.

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During zazen, the hands are folded together into a simple mudra

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over the belly. In many practices, one breathes from the

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hara (the center of gravity in the belly)

Related Topics:
Hara - Center of gravity

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and the eyelids are half-lowered, the eyes being neither fully open

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nor shut. (The latter practice has its origins in a superstition

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where those who close their eyes during meditation are said to be in

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the hungry ghost cave of Black Mountain.)

Related Topics:
Hungry ghost - Cave

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Long periods of zazen, usually performed in groups at a zendo (meditation hall), may alternate with periods of kinhin (walking meditation). The beginning of a zazen period is traditionally announced by ringing a bell three times (shijosho), and the end of a round by ringing the bell once (hozensho). Before and after sitting on the zafu, zen practitioners perform a gassho bow to the cushion, to fellow practitioners, and to the teacher.

Related Topics:
Zendo - Kinhin

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Zazen: Misconceptions about Zazen ►