Zen Meditation

Secrets of the Zen Circle

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The Zen circle is a simple, stark black circle usually painted on white paper in ink. Typically the circle is said to represent the material world that continues endlessly without cessation. There is a beginning to life (where the brush first touches the paper) and an end (where the brush leaves the paper), but this beginning and end continue one after the other, thereby signifying the wheel of birth, death and rebirth. The space within that circle is the emptiness, or the void, the understanding of which lies at the heart of Zen and the experience of which is the goal of meditation.

All well and good, but I would like to suggest a very different lesson that can be learned. If you want to actively participate then grab a pencil, an eraser and a clean sheet of paper.

First simply draw a circle on the paper. It doesn’t have to be very ‘good’ from an artistic point of view and an approximation is adequate.

Now step back and take a look at the paper in its entirety. What do you see?

What you will inevitably notice is the circle. After all, it is the only thing to actually see.

Now shift your focus to what is inside the circle.

And now take a look at what is outside the circle.

Inside the circle and outside the circle.

What is inside and what is outside is the same. The circle – the idea of separation – is an illusion. The circle, which creates the duality of ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ or ‘here’ and ‘there’ is a false representation. The cycle of ‘life’ and ‘death’ that the circle shows is itself nothing more than a trick of the conscious mind that habitually creates opposites where none in fact exist.

So take your eraser and wipe away the pencil mark on your paper.

This is the enlightened mind.

The mind that is beyond duality. Limitless and formless. Infinite.

The circle, to me, has been particularly selected to indicate that it is an eternal truth that all things are inherently connected. It was true then, it is true now and it will be true in the future.

There are innumerable instances of how this understanding can be applied to personal development. One of the most important is to begin viewing your life in its totality. Accept that your physical well-being is directly connected to your emotional state which in turn is influenced by your spiritual insight into the deeper questions of life. Recognize that a change to one aspect of your life will inevitably lead to other changes. Whether those changes are good or bad is dependent on you and the choices you make…so commit to a life of growth and development.

Once the choice has been made internally and you begin to change your life prepare yourself to be amazed at the reaction you get from those around you. What is inside is outside; what is outside is inside. As within, so without. This ancient wisdom is as applicable today as it was centuries ago. Make a positive change within yourself and see that positivity reflected back at you by the people around you and the circumstances you find yourself in.

Finally take the time to meditate on the meaning of the Zen circle in a fuller sense and how its secret applies to your life. I have only scratched the surface here; there is so much more to discover and share.

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What is Meditation?

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Meditation is not a technique, but a way of life. Meditation means “a cessation of the thought process”. It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.

In the West, the word meditation means a concentrated state of mind in serious reflection. The Latin root of the word meditation, mederi, means “to heal.” It is an effort to heal afflictions of the mind, the hurt ego, by trying to understand the cause of the problem and finding a way to solve it, that is, by knowing what counter-measures to take. To meditate thus, is to deepen a state of understanding.

In the East, however, meditation does not mean thinking at all but fixing the mind in a spiritual ideal, to be one with it, or the thought-process dissolving in the consciousness of it. According to Zen, meditation does not involve any concept but is an awareness of inner silence. As per the Yoga of Patanjali, meditation is a combination of three steps: pratyahara or abstraction, or withdrawal of the mind from the sense-objects or attention to their memory; dharana or concentration; and dhyana or contemplation which, however, is not a thought-process but an absorption of the feeling of oneness with the ideal.

In Bhakti Yoga, meditation is visualization of the image of a chosen deity, together with mental repetition of a relevant mantra.

For the Vedantin it is to contemplate on the meaning of selected verses from the Upanishads or similar scriptures.

Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. “Watching your breath” is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.

Health benefits of Meditation:

It lowers oxygen consumption.
It decreases respiratory rate.
It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients.
Leads to a deeper level of relaxation.
Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to normal.
Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.
Builds self-confidence.
It increases serotonin production which influences mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity, insomnia and headaches.
Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.
Reduces Pre- menstrual Syndrome.
Helps in post-operative healing.
Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of ‘natural-killer cells’, which kill bacteria and cancer cells.
Also reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress.

What Meditation is NOT

Meditation is NOT concentration
Meditation is NOT relaxation
Meditation is NOT a serious religious practice 
Meditation is NOT a state of mind
Meditation is NOT self-hypnosis

What is required to meditate?

A state of comfortable body. No desire for food or water or excretion.
A suitable time. 15-20 minutes of time, without any sense of urgency or pressing needs.
A quiet location. Meditation is usually practiced in a quiet place with as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for beginners.
A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on the type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, or in other positions.
A focus of attention. Focusing one’s attention is usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the sensations of the breath.
An open attitude. Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them.

Meditation – Do Not:

Do not meditate immediately after eating food. Give a 30 minutes to 2 hours gap depending on the size of meal
Do not meditate immediately before or after a heavy cardiovascular exercise. Rest for 30 minutes before meditating.

Spiritual healing portal is a non-profit venture from SHP Resources Inc., an US based Women and Minority owned firm. The objective of this portal is to provide a wealth of information and problem solving techniques through several spiritual healing vehicles like Astrology, Aromatherapy, Acupressure, Meditation, Crystals, FengShui, Reiki, and Yoga.

Finding Zen, Mentally and Physically : zen meditation

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Finding Zen really is not that difficult, it requires the right mindset, some discipline, a few pinches of motivation and being open to the Zen.

The first thing you need to do is clean your mental house. By this I mean, rid yourself of negative thoughts, living in the past, picking at mental wounds, and reliving the drama. You simply CHOOSE to stop this vicious cycle. It all starts in your head. This is probably the most important step in attaining Zen, so I’m going to spend a little time on this particular aspect.

First and foremost, no one goes through life unscathed. The sooner you accept that fact, the easier the rest of this mental process will be. It all comes down to how you deal with the difficulties that life throws your way. Do you let them dominate you mentally, control you and continue the pain, suffering, mental anguish, resentment or anger? Or do you accept that bad things happen to good people, learn from the ordeal and move on?

Unfortunately, for many, who have suffered in some way, either by their own doing or at the hands of another, perpetuate the pain and suffering by reliving it again and again. They are locked, mentally, in the past, prisoners in their own mind, of an atrocity they have suffered, and so, they are victimized again and again.

For others, it is a lesson…. a sometimes very difficult and terrible lesson, but a lesson nonetheless. They accept that this happened to them, they choose to not let this define them, and they pick their heads up and move on.

Freeing yourself from this type of negative grudge, only you can do. This door locks from the inside.
Once you can accept this way of thinking, the door opens, the pain subsides and you are free to move on with you life.

You are choosing to not be a victim any longer. You are choosing to not live in the past. You are choosing to simply move on and live in the now.

Once you are here, mentally you are ready for Zen. Now meditation can begin. Start out by scheduling yourself 10 minutes a day for meditation. You can do it in your office, in your bedroom, in the bathtub, anywhere where you have 10 minutes of silence. Freeing your mind of the constant chatter will be a challenge at first, but focusing your attention simply on your breathing, breathing in and breathing out, will be helpful. As soon as you discover your mind wandering off to the duties of the day, refocus on your breath.

You will find meditation extremely relaxing. Studies show a wide range of empirical findings associated with meditation have been attributed to the state of “restful alertness” it is said to produce in the physiology, as indicated by decreased respiration rate, increased basal skin resistance, lower plasma lactate levels, lower cortisol levels, and increased global EEG coherence during the practice of meditation. Over time meditation reduces several cardiovascular risk factors including cholesterol, lipid peroxide, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and anxiety. Over time meditation also results in better health as indicated by reduced illness rates, reduced doctors visits and reduced hospitalization. Meditation has also been shown to slow the aging process.

A book I highly recommend about mental awareness and well being is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.

Accepting Zen physically requires some sweat. Yes, I said sweat, because, caring for your body, and giving it the respect it deserves, means exercising it. This can be; aerobics, running, brisk walking, yoga, dancing, palates, cycling, martial arts, tai chi, swimming and many other forms of exercise.

By doing any number of these, you are caring for you body. It’s not about being the size 2. It’s about being whatever size is your healthy size. Where your body was meant to be.

When you exercise your body, you release endorphins that elate your mood, relieve stress and just make you feel better. It’s no wonder that people who care for their bodies have less issues with health related illnesses that can snowball and cause a multitude of other illnesses.

You need to plan 3 days a week, 30 minutes each time for exercise. Schedule it like you would a doctor’s appointment. You work around this standing appointment and try to never cancel it. Be sure to get in the three days a week faithfully, be faithful to yourself and have the discipline to continue even when you would rather skip the day.
Exercise can be done at your home, on your lunch break, at the gym, around your house. Some women exercise with their babies, some men, on their lunch breaks by running or walking. You can choose to take the stairs, instead of the elevator, to park farther out in the parking lots to walk the extra steps. This is where discipline is a necessity. Without it, you’ll never achieve where you would like to be physically. It’s just not possible.

My last tip would be to make an appointment at a local spa. Spa is more than beauty fixes and superficial powder-puff treatments. For example: a good massage, can relieve even the most tense of muscles, and soothe a cantankerous mood. It releases lactic acid build up from muscles that create tension and tension makes you feel bad.

A good facial can do the same. I’m surprised at how many people think spa treatments/facials are just fluff. It’s actually touch therapy. In a society today where people hardly touch- you’d be amazed what a facial can do for you mentally, not to mention the wonders it can do for your skin. And yes, this applies to the guys as well.

Pedicures and manicures are also wonderful- not just for good grooming, which is important, but just to kick back, relax, read a good magazine, sip a hot cup of tea and indulge in taking a little time for yourself.

Deep Zen – What is It?

Zen Meditation

Meditation is a way to observe peace and unity within oneself. It has been often touted as a remedy to many ailments, and therefore it is no wonder that people in most urban developments have started embracing meditation as a way of life. Recently, after much research and extensive study into the manifold benefits of the art of meditation, various methods have also been explored. Some of them are:

• Zen Meditation
• Healing Meditation
• Transcendental Style Of Meditation
• Hindu Meditation
• Mantra Meditation
• Moving Meditation
• Passive Meditation
• Candle Light Meditation

Perhaps, the greatest benefit afforded by all these forms of meditation is to afford a relief from stress. Modern life is bound inextricably with tension- be it at home or work place. The only solution to deal with these emergencies is to strengthen oneself from within. Once this has been successfully established, you need not fear distress anymore.

One form of mediation that has spread like wildfire over the past few years is the Zen meditation. It originates from the practices of eastern Buddhism, and is said to cultivate the human mind by honing its concentration power. Monks practiced it in order to introspect on divinity. Why do ordinary people like you and me practice it these days? Well, the answer is simple- to fight the worries and obstacles presented to us on a daily basis. Life is filled with hurdles, and as we have asserted earlier, you must make yourself stronger both emotionally and mentally in order to survive.

There are few facts about this type of meditation that you must know about:

• Zen meditation is called ‘Zazen’, which means the study of oneself.

There are a few exercises that are indispensable when it comes to Zen- both physical as well as mental.

• One has to be aware of one’s breathing while practicing Zen meditation. You must be aware of inhaling and exhaling. Each inhalation must be deep, simultaneously reminding you of every part of your body, while during exhalation you must relax your body as far as you can.

• Think positively: about happy memories, about your goals and objectives. You must start being happy about your life and your senses of sight, touch, taste and smell. Exult!

• Meditation must not be subjected to formal rules and regulations. It must be intuitive and personal. It depends upon your state of mind. Follow those techniques that you are comfortable with.

Certain audio programs that promise to relax your mind are also available in the market, ‘Deep Zen Meditation’ being one of them. Technology has indeed developed to a large extent, and this is a valid example. This audio program asserts that it can provide your mind with peace by affecting the auditory system of the brain.

It is as easy as plugging in your headphones and listening to the audio program. It promises that within a few minutes, you will reach a deep state of meditation. This is caused by making sure that the dominant brain wave pattern at the desired frequency, i.e. the frequency of the program. Soon enough, you will be able to tackle all anxiety attacks and experience lower levels of stress- all thanks to such a revolutionary and unique product.

Here’s an excellent way to start enjoying the benefits of meditation today. The Deep Zen audio program is easy for anyone wanting to learn how to meditate – offering a free demo, and helps advanced meditators achieve deeper levels of meditation too. Try another free demo here: Totally Tranquil

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Beading As Zen : zen meditation

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I decided that I would make a bracelet from them.  I was shown how to peyote stitch from someone, I have long forgotten whom, so I sat down and I started.  It is clumsy slow at first.  But soon I was moving along and found that enjoyed the rhythm of picking up a bead and stitching it to the next bead and holding the tension just so and picking up the next bead and stitching it to the next bead…  Well, you get the idea right?

It turned out that the rhythm of process was very Zen like.  It was a  calming meditation.  The physical act combined with the attention required has the result of clearing the mind of everything but what is being done.  The feeling is of being one with the time it takes and comfort of the result and more importantly, free of the stresses that take up the mind every day. So doesn’t that sound like Zen?  Calming and producing a thing that will remind you of the calmness.  That has to be a good thing right?

For this reason, it can be a very additive activity.  This initial project I made I continued once I made the length and width that I wanted for the bracelet.  I decided I liked the feeling so much that I decided I would continue free form adding bead loops on top of the flat band that I made.  I used the three colors and filled up the band very much like a carpet has loops.  That has been some 15 years ago and I still get compliments on that bracelet when I wear it.  There is something about love being put into something that is made, which makes it special.

So if you have looked at tiny beads with fear, it may be time to give them a try.  The caution I would give is to start with a small project and if you really like it, also buy a timer.  Because you will need it to remind yourself to get up with regularity to drink water and move around!

Lori Broesamle was a bead store owner and basic jewelry teacher.  She sold the bead store and now makes her own jewelry. She has her own blogs about beads and jewelry with beads.  It is hard to think of pearls as beads some times isn’t it?  But they are.

Mini Zen Gardens : zen meditation

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Miniature Zen gardens were created originally by the Japanese, and they take on significant natural and artificial elements for peace. They are designed to allow you to sit and contemplate for a while at your desk. You can create your own miniature Zen garden where you can create your own sanctuary without leaving the office.

Since 13 Century Japanese monks used them as a spiritual place to view and meditate. Miniature Zen gardens provide a three dimensional image, which is planned with a foreground, and to provide a background perspective. There are a few key types of zen garden;

* Kanshoh-style which is viewed from your residence
* Tea Garden
* Pond Garden
* Dry landscape style like a rock garden
* A Rolling garden

These all incorporate a few key elements. You can create your own perfect peace of zen by balancing out these elements.

Stone and Pebbles
Pebbles in your Miniature Zen garden are most often mild and rounded cobbles as large as size of peas like a potato. They are used to create fields on the ground, a base-level offering for the arts, and to outline a stepping stone paths. Strategically placed rocks and stones are used as design features in the garden. Stones are often positioned so they protrude from the water or in a raked sand garden. Large stones and boulders are seen as islands in the Japanese garden. Stone lanterns are often placed next to a pathway or near a water feature. The role of the stone can not be overemphasized, since it provides the structural basis of the hardscape design.

Sand and fine gravel
In mini gardens without water, fine sand and gravel are used to create a metaphor for water. Whether built as a dry stream bed, or in the large uniform seas raked to be to achieve a smooth or rippled effect, this is a common way to cover parts of the earth and serve as a basis for organizing planting. The Art of Zen-garden is in the placement of components and patterns of computing the sand formed in different patterns. These structures are in Shinto shrines, where they said, to a place more hospitable for spirits are very popular. Depending on how the sand raked, they can such as running water or simply just to look for lines.

Fences and signs
The Japanese art of making bamboo fence and gate has led to incredibly elaborate creations. From straight rods lashed to brush and straw in intricate patterns, these functional housing is an important part of the garden, the visual design.

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A User Review Of Zen Timer Meditation Timer 6.2.1

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Zen Timer is a cute little app designed for such activities as Reiki, yoga, and meditation. What are the advantages over a simple countdown timer or alarm clock? Zen Timer has an array of interesting customization options, and the advantage of a collection of sounds that are much more peaceful than your typical alarm.

The first option on the main screen is the most basic function, to choose the length of time you need. The options following this are where the app really starts to show its uniqueness the next thing to do is to select what kind of ending-bell you want to use. There are six separate bells to choose from. The quality of them all is very high, and even through the speaker of a phone they sound great. You have the option of up to three rings for the ending bell.

After this is the very cool option to choose a bell to begin your session with. Again, you can choose what bell you want to use and how many times you want it to ring, but you also get to set a delay on it. This allows you to have a space of time from when you set it up and when you actually start your session, so you have a bit of a gap to get settled and ready for your session before the bell rings to signify the start of your meditation.

There are a number of other nice features, like the ability to have the bell ring at set intervals, which is nice if you just like the sound of the actual bells. You are also provided with a journal as well as a record of statistics. This lets you track your sessions the average length, specific lengths of particular sessions, the number of sessions over a certain number of days, and so on. At the end of each session, youll be given the option to add an entry to your journal. If you choose to do so, that entry will be synced with that sessions statistics, and both stats and the journal itself can be exported.

Sadly, Zen Journal is not as stable as it could be. It works perfectly most of the time, but occasionally seems to get thrown off by a text message or a phone call. Also, if you stop the session manually, the statistics are not recorded, which is a bit annoying. On the whole, though, the app is constructed quite well. The bells sounds great, and if you spend time on meditation, youll probably find it quite useful.

Michael Jones is a writer who is intrested in .
You can find more of his work at

Japanese Zen Shakuhachi Flute : zen meditation

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The Shakuhachi Flute is Japan’s most popular woodwind instrument. This Shakuhachi Flute has been used by Zen Buddhists as a tool for meditation and at the same time an instrument to play Japanese folk music, jazz or classical music. The Japanese Flute is usually made from the very bottom of a bamboo stalk or bamboo tree, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. According to the experts the name shakuhachi is derived from the term “isshaku hassun” meaning one shaku and eight suns (1.8 Japanese feet). Usually the term shakuhachi refers to the standard size of the instrument, which is 54.5 cm in length, but it can also refer to many different sizes ranging from 1.3 – 2.5 shaku (39.4 – 75.7 cm) and longer.

Today the Shakuhachi Flute is becoming popular not only with Japanese people or Zen Buddhists but also to people of all ages that are musically inclined and love to collect different types of musical instruments. The Japanese bamboo flute is perhaps the simplest non-percussive instrument ever created. This instrument has no keys or pads like the flute that you can see in Western music. There are no strings like guitars or violins and no inner mechanisms like in the piano and the Shakuhachi has no mouthpiece like a saxophone or trumpet. Indeed the Shakuhachi is one of the simple musical instruments that you can play and get a wonderful and soothing sound from. The Shakuhachi Bamboo Flute has only five finger holes, which is fewer than any other flute or any other wind instrument. To play a note, your mouth and lips have got to become part of the instrument. In spite of its simple construction, the Shakuhachi can create an incredibly broad range of musical sounds.

You need to take a good care of your Shakuhachi Bamboo Flute.

Clean the Shakuhachi with a clean and soft cloth to remove the dust and moisture that could damage the functionality of the flute. Another thing to remember is to keep the flute properly stored in a case. Make sure that they are kept away from possible harmful elements like direct sunlight, fire and water.

If you want to have a Shakuhachi Flute but don’t know where to buy one; you can start looking on the Internet as there are website these days that offer different types of Shakuhachi Flutes, Japanese flutes and bamboo flutes. However just make sure that the instrument you buy is of high quality materials, well-made and affordable.

 

Tom Budko is a fan of Shakuhachi Flutes. A traditional Japanese bamboo flute which has been used in Zen Buddhism for centuries as a tool for meditation and learning to be fully aware of one’s breath.