Practicing Zen
Zen means waking up to the present
moment. That is, perceiving this moment exactly as it is, rather than through
the filter of our ideas, opinions, etc. We say that our clear mind is like a
clear mirror: white comes, only white; red comes, only red. One way to practice
this is to ask yourself a Big Question, such as "What am I?" If you ask such a
question strongly and sincerely, what appears is "Don't Know." This don't-know
is before thinking. If you keep it moment to moment, then everything is clear.
Then, each moment, whatever you're doing, just do it. When you're sitting, just
sit; when you're eating, just eat; and so on. Since this mind has no "I", we can
use it to help all beings.
(There's also of course a formal style of sitting practice.)
The Dharma Zen
Center of Los Angeles site includes a more formal explanation of Zen.
Back to "My So-Called
Spiritual Life"