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In this sitting meditation, zazen, everything is at rest and you penetrate everywhere - thus it is like returning home to sit in peace.
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--Keizan
[1]
Zazen is a very pragmatic, practical, and simple approach; the essential core of the spiritual life. It is not for everyone, but for one who is deeply searching for relief from suffering, it may be an appropriate tool. There is no way of knowing what the effects of zazen will be for different people; although practice changes over time, the manner and time in which it develops is very individual. Although zazen feels different at various stages of practice, the technique stays the same; staying present, letting go.
"Meditation is the practice of finding the still point of balance within your own being in the midst of all kinds of conditions. Its purpose is not to escape, not to duck responsibility or involvement in daily life, but to know with certainty exactly where the center of your own being is. When we remember who we are in silence, we bring tremendous strength and insight to daily life. The perspective gained through meditation in an ordinary daily life is a key to a truly successful life. But it is also a powerful means of progressing on the spiritual path. It brings us inner peace of mind, and helps us discover how to live in harmony with everything around us; at home, at work, and even in the difficult social and political world in which we find ourselves.”
--Kyogen Carlson
[2]
Zazen can be a transformative discipline. We discover stillness, that ‘inner peace of mind’ against which our selfish manipulation of the world stands out in stark contrast. From still, blissful, spaciousness comes insight, bringing clarity to our practice. We ‘discover how to live,’ in this world, learning to see who we are, to hold this carefully and safely, and to transcend harmful patterns. This practice brings us in touch with the subtle, mystical layers of meaning, not just while sitting on the cushion, but throughout everyday life. Dropping everything, we find that nothing is left, and that this supports and guides us, becoming the reference point for our lives.
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