Meditation

There are many different types of meditation in the Buddhist tradition.

Meditation is central to the Sōtō Zen tradition and is commonly known as “zazen”, a Japanese word describing a practice that we call “serene reflection meditation”. Zazen is essentially about “just sitting”. We adopt an alert, but relaxed sitting posture with the choice of using a chair, a meditation bench, or a cushion for the cross legged position. We simply sit still with eyes open and a relaxed but alert mind, “neither trying to think nor trying not to think”.

A metaphor sometimes used to describe this form of meditation is that of a boundless blue sky. Clouds may pass by, rain, winds or storms may pass through, but all the while the boundless sky remains and simply holds all these things, allowing them to arise, take their course and pass on. So, too, we sit still with all the arising of our thoughts, feelings and sensations, allowing them to arise naturally, but without latching onto them, just letting them go and pass on. In this way, we deepen our intuitive knowledge and trust of our true nature, opening our hearts to Compassion, Love and Wisdom and our willingness to do what is good to do in our ordinary daily lives.

Buddha means “the awakened one”. Through the regular practice of serene reflection meditation, the mind becomes calm and fully awake, expressing our true nature. In Buddhism, we call this our Buddha Nature. From this, we are able to realise the Middle Way, which the Buddha described as like a well tuned stringed instrument – neither too tight nor too loose.