Buddhism Site : The Art of Zen Meditation

The Buddhist practice offers many things to different people. One of the aspects of Buddhism that many people find helps them, regardless of whether they are a Buddhist or not, is meditation. Zen meditation can help anyone find peace in their lives through the breathing exercises and chants. If you are not comfortable speaking the chants, then you can still find relaxation and inner peace through the art of mediation. Buddhist meditation can completely change how you handle stress in your life and you will find yourself all the better for learning this practice.

Zen meditation is part of what is known as zazen. Zazen refers to all of the positions and breathing exercises that Buddhists practice. It is a structure of breathing, consciousness and form that every follower, from the Tibetan Buddhist on down to the simple Buddhist monk, practices each and every day. There are a series of steps that you will take in order to start meditating.

The first step in Buddhist meditation is to find your position. This can be one of several positions. The Burmese position is where the legs are folded and the feet both touch the floor. The best way to be in the Lotus or Half Lotus position is to have your backside elevated on a special pillow, which will allow you to sit freely but with your legs positioned correctly. You can find this pillow online or in many specialty shops.

The Lotus or Half Lotus position involves sitting on the floor with your legs folded up on one another. You will resemble a pretzel in this position and it is definitely a hard one to attain when you are just starting out. If you have joint pains, then this may not be the best position for you to sit in. In that case you need to sit comfortably in a chair with your feet firmly planted and your shoulders squarely aligned with the rest of your body.

The final part of the Buddhist meditation ritual is your breathing and concentration. Begin by taking in deep breaths through your nose and slowly exhaling the breath from your mouth. At the same time, clear your thoughts and be mindful of what your body is telling you. Try to slow your breathing down and begin focusing on clearing your mind. It is perfectly fine if you have intrusive thoughts. Now is the time to acknowledge them and then let them go. It is a process of finding peace within yourself and letting go of your stressors.

If you are constantly rushing through things and not applying yourself, then Zen meditation is not going to work for you unless you take the time to learn it. While you may never be as learned as a Buddhist monk, you can still partake in the meditation portion of the Buddhist studies. Just slow down and take your time learning how to meditate and you will be rewarded.

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