Zen

Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. The Japanese word Zen is derived from the Chinese word Chán, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which means "meditation" or "meditative state".


Ok, that’s what most of the definitions about Zen say, it’s all about attaining enlightenment, a process of rediscovery, introspection, a step backwards, being calm within yourself. I discovered Zen in college as part of a humanities class and a discussion on religions of the world and found it in practice for myself on a vacation in southern Mexico at a wonderful Club Med in Huatulco (It is located on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca.) while learning all about archery; the most Zen sport I know of!

I try to meditate whenever I get frazzled or am feeling snarky; which means I should be living in a constant state of Zen!!

Tonight I rediscovered a book called Instant Zen, a do it yourself guide to awareness and discovery, I’m going to do as the book suggests, go with the flow, open myself to new ideas and get in touch with “the eye of the soul”.

The book is divided in half, like a flip book, mix and match, each page with a phrase when joined they create a zen thought to, well, think about!

Here are some I created and plan on thinking about...


It is not necessary to try

-just be

Seeing is beyond form-

Hearing is beyond sound



We can only know

That we know nothing

Scoop up water,

The moon is in your hands



Everything becomes its opposite

No cold spot

In a boiling cauldron



Enter into your inner self

And behold the eye of your soul

In the midst of all good and evil,

Not a thought is aroused in the mind

 
 
I'll have to see what happens when I open up my mind and just go with the flow. This has definite possibilities.