Zen - Preparing For Meditation
Some people will find that meditation comes naturally to them and others will have some difficulty.
Do not judge your performance.
If you have trouble, consider your difficulties challenges, like bumps on a road, You do not stop traveling because the road gets a little rough.
At a center town, you will learn meditation with others, which some people find easier.
If you are an independent sort of person, you may prefer to meditate on your own.
Many great Zen masters found their enlightenment on their own.
Anyone can be enlightened if they make the effort.
Sense what is best for you and most importantly, meditate! Meditation can be done anywhere at any time, but when you first start, find a quiet, private, temperate place with subdued lighting.
Pick a time when you do not have any immediate responsibilities.
At first, devote a short amount of time to meditation, even as little as one minute.
Eventually, as you begin to feel the benefits, you will probably feel more motivated to increase the time that you spend meditating.
Meditation Postures There is a traditional way to sit on the floor in meditation, which is still followed today in many Zen temples.
But do not let the conventions for positioning prevent you from meditation.
If you can not sit on the floor, use a chair.
Meditation comes from within, so do not let your body restrictions hold you back.
Place a pillow on the floor.
Sit down and cross your legs into the lotus position where the left heel rests on the right thigh and right heel rests on the left thigh.
If you do not have the flexibility for this position, sit with only one foot up, known as a half lotus, or simply sit cross-legged with both feet resting on the floor.
Place your hands on your lap, with your left hand on top of your right, middle joints of your middle fingers together, and thumbs lightly touching.
Your hands will be shaped like an oval.
One reason for crossing your legs and hands is to make your body a unity, with no distinction between left and right, no beginning and no end.
Sit with your spine straight, aligning your head in the center without tilting.
Relax your shoulders and keep your head straight.
Do not strain.
Your breathing passages should be free and unrestricted.
Let your breathing be normal.
Keep your eyes half open.
(Traditionally, eyes were not entirely shut to prevent the monks from falling asleep.
) Remain relaxed, but alert.
Do not judge your performance.
If you have trouble, consider your difficulties challenges, like bumps on a road, You do not stop traveling because the road gets a little rough.
At a center town, you will learn meditation with others, which some people find easier.
If you are an independent sort of person, you may prefer to meditate on your own.
Many great Zen masters found their enlightenment on their own.
Anyone can be enlightened if they make the effort.
Sense what is best for you and most importantly, meditate! Meditation can be done anywhere at any time, but when you first start, find a quiet, private, temperate place with subdued lighting.
Pick a time when you do not have any immediate responsibilities.
At first, devote a short amount of time to meditation, even as little as one minute.
Eventually, as you begin to feel the benefits, you will probably feel more motivated to increase the time that you spend meditating.
Meditation Postures There is a traditional way to sit on the floor in meditation, which is still followed today in many Zen temples.
But do not let the conventions for positioning prevent you from meditation.
If you can not sit on the floor, use a chair.
Meditation comes from within, so do not let your body restrictions hold you back.
Place a pillow on the floor.
Sit down and cross your legs into the lotus position where the left heel rests on the right thigh and right heel rests on the left thigh.
If you do not have the flexibility for this position, sit with only one foot up, known as a half lotus, or simply sit cross-legged with both feet resting on the floor.
Place your hands on your lap, with your left hand on top of your right, middle joints of your middle fingers together, and thumbs lightly touching.
Your hands will be shaped like an oval.
One reason for crossing your legs and hands is to make your body a unity, with no distinction between left and right, no beginning and no end.
Sit with your spine straight, aligning your head in the center without tilting.
Relax your shoulders and keep your head straight.
Do not strain.
Your breathing passages should be free and unrestricted.
Let your breathing be normal.
Keep your eyes half open.
(Traditionally, eyes were not entirely shut to prevent the monks from falling asleep.
) Remain relaxed, but alert.
