Association Kan Jizai

"To Study the Way is to study ourselves
To study ourselves is to forget ourselves
To forget ourselves is to be at one with all existences"
Master Dôgen


Practicing Zen meditation
Zazen
 Za : seated

 Zen : meditation   
« For zazen a quiet place is suitable. Eat and drink in moderation. Cast aside all involvements and drop off any concern. At your usual sitting place, spread out a thick mat and on top of it put a round cushion. Sit either in the full-lotus position or in the half-lotus position. In the full-lotus position, first place your right foot on your left thigh, then your left foot on your right thigh. In the half-lotus position, simply press your left foot on your right thigh.


Loosen your robes and belt and arrange them neatly.

Place your right hand on your left leg and your left hand (palm up) on your right hand, the tips of the thumbs touching each other.

Sit upright, leaning neither left nor right, neither forward nor backward.

Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, and your nose in line with your navel.

Rest the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth; your lips and teeth should be touching.

Your eyes should remain open and you should breathe softly through the nose.

Once you are in the correct position, take a deep breath and exhale fully once, then, breathe in and out. Sway your body to left and right; and settle into a steady posture...

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice, it is nothing but the Dharma gate to peace and joy. It is the practice-realization of complete enlightenment.


« Do not think this is good and that is bad!
Do not take sides for or against. Let go of your mind’s conscious movements. Give up measuring your thoughts, ideas and views. »

Extracts from Master Dogen’s Fukanzazenji.