The cardinal points of a Zen life

The Zen lifestyle, for those who wish to experience it, has a few precise cardinal points: not living in anxiety about the eternal present, but viewing it with a certain detachment, without losing memory and enthusiasm for the future; sobriety and simplicity; accepting what happens, not with resignation, but without forcing the outcome; feeling compassion for those who do not share our fortunes; never being overly attached to things and their accumulation.

The word Zen is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character " Chan, " which in turn translates the Sanskrit term " Dhyana ," meaning "vision" or meditation. In fact, Zen is neither a religion nor a philosophy, but rather, we might say, a way of being in the world that translates into contemplation, meditation, presence, discrimination, and awakening.

What

Zen, which can be practiced minute by minute throughout our day, refers to the ability to find a sense of peace and balance within oneself . The practice of " Dhyana " was widely used in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism to achieve Enlightenment, that is, perfect mental purity, reunion with God, and the opening of the third eye (located on the forehead, which is the "inner guru," the wise part, the source of ideas, omens, and intuition).

Zen is a true mental state , dependent only on our intuition. A state of mind that aims to bring us back to our true selves, distancing us from the ephemeral things of life and attitudes that isolate us from reality. A very modern attitude, where our lives are crushed by frenzy , the ravages of an eternal present, and a stressful race that has made us lose sight of the dimension of time.

Where it was born

Zen was born in the 7th century in China , during the Tang Dynasty , dating back to Shakyamuni Buddha, who attained enlightenment in the 6th century in India. Zazen meditation is the most widely used practice for approaching the truth. Zazen refers to the position Shakyamuni Buddha assumed when he attained enlightenment: sitting cross-legged. The practice of Zazen originated in India, where, due to the scorching heat, thinkers began to meditate under large trees whose foliage provided shade. Meditating standing, however, was tiring, and even sitting was not comfortable, as it induced sleep. Therefore, remaining with crossed legs was comfortable and also promoted concentration. In Zazen, it is very important to harmonize body, breath, and mind. Breathing connects the human being to his own vital energy and dissolves all torment.

The story of Shakyamuni Buddha has been passed down for centuries and reached China thanks to a monk named Bodhidharma, who also spread many meditative practices identified by the Chinese term "Ch'an." From then on, Zen spread to many Asian countries and reached the Far East. Zen meditation then originated in Japanese schools in the 13th century and still teaches disciples today to free their minds from negative thoughts and all the prejudices that keep them earthbound, to achieve inner peace. Only in this way can one achieve a state of harmony with the surrounding world.

The Zen principles

To live Zen, you simply need to do a few essential things and incorporate them into your lifestyle. Here are five that apply to everyone:

• Do one thing at a time, without worrying and without overlapping the efforts of mind and body. We were not born to be multitasking, and the brain is also programmed to do one thing at a time. Calmly, methodically, and mindfully: once you've completed it, you can move on to the next thing.
• Do less. Reduce things that are not necessary and thus represent a waste of our energy. But also have a space for ourselves, for meditation and reflection, between one thing and another.
• You have to be simple in life, and soberEven when tasks are heavy, a refined lightness helps us complete them on time and without counterproductive pressure.
• When you can, and have time to do so, close your eyes and breathe deeply. You will improve your breathing but first of all you will not waste a minute of your life meditating and being with yourself.
• In life everything has its placeIf I'm walking, for example, there's no point in talking on my smartphone, I lose all the benefit. The same thing at the table: the pleasure of food and conversazione fades when interrupted by the trill and distractions of our electronic prosthetics.

There are many Zen meditation practices that help individuals master mental activity to achieve complete self-acceptance, focusing on the here and now, and a state of profound inner stillness. According to Zen, one must overcome attachment to the material world and thus reach the absolute truth, the one experienced by the Buddha and also called "enlightenment." Zen practices abstraction so that one can also see oneself from a different perspective, in which a sense of security and certainties no longer exist: in this way, one questions oneself as a human being.

What is Zen for?

Zen meditation leads man toward the knowledge of his most intimate nature , through the relaxation of body and mind . This leads to the rediscovery of a psychophysical balance that leads to an ever-increasing level of awareness which combats anxiety and stress , giving the body a sense of well-being. Useless thoughts leave the mind, as do the fears and obstacles of daily life. This type of meditation, easy to perform at any age, is based on breathing and posture control, and is also aided by listening to relaxing music. Zen brings many psychophysical benefits, as it strengthens the capacity for attention, improves social relationships, promotes empathy , and makes one feel less alone. Numerous physiological benefits can also be observed, as Zen practice has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and lowers blood pressure. Those who meditate are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases and hypertension . Zen meditation is a good remedy for counteracting the frenetic pace of life that grips human beings.

How to become a Zen master

Anyone who wishes to become a meditation teacher must have deeply rooted the practice of meditation and have benefited from it in their daily life; in short, they must have achieved that balance between mind and body that leads to a general state of well-being. And this well-being must be so deeply rooted that it inspires a desire to share it with others, so that they too can pursue the same goals and follow the path to awareness. To teach, one must possess genuine motivation and a sense of purpose. Enlightenment is not a prerequisite for teaching meditation, as a good teacher does not necessarily have to have achieved a high level of concentration, but rather must have developed solid experience in meditation and have trained themselves on a specific path. The joy of firsthand practice is absolutely essential if one wishes to teach others. Those who teach are passionate about the subject, continually study it, and share this joy with others.

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