Zazen

Zazen (literally "sitting in zen" in Japanese) is often referred to as meditation, although in reality it has little in common with other forms of meditation, as this practice does not contain any element of question on which to meditate. In India, this practice was called dhyana, which means "meditation without an object". It is an attentive presence "in what is, as it is", i.e. the direct experience of the external and internal conditions of the individual's body and mind, without conceptualisation or comparison with past experiences.

Once you have established yourself in an upright sitting position and follow the regularity of the breath, the mind becomes one with the body, ceasing to 'wander' in thought processes, so that the mechanisms of 'duality' fade away and the inner dialogue loses its force. Habits, stereotypes, prejudices, habitus and other fixed mental constructs lose their meaning. Zazen is not an attempt to annihilate thought processes or a quest to slow down vital functions, and it is not an attempt to isolate oneself from reality (during zazen, for example, you need to keep your eyes open and your senses alert). It is a full and open participation in everything that manifests itself. It cannot be understood through descriptions, definitions or images. It is impossible to define unequivocally what zazen is, because it is an intimate, deeply personal and therefore unique experience.

The zazen posture has several variations, which are adapted to the practitioner's individual abilities. For beginners, it is advisable to concentrate on the posture, breathing and non-attachment to the apparent reality of thoughts. Just as to really know what an apple tastes like, you simply have to taste it, so to experience zazen, you simply have to sit in zazen.