I went to the Zen service that was offered on a Wednesday night. The website told all new visitors to come in thirty minutes early so that you can receive basic instruction on how to meditate and act accordingly within the Sangha. The instructor gave us basic history about Buddhism, but the moved on how to meditate. The meditation aspect of Zen is most important, with meditation being about 95 percent of the service itself. To properly meditate in a zazen, or sitting meditation, one must prop themselves upon a cushion at an angle. It is a little hard to describe, but the cushion is folded and propped in the back with your knees on the floor. With that stated, the participant must cross their legs in many positions that are offered. The full lotus and half lotus are very hard to do, it is mainly for experienced or flexible people, but one leg kinda folded or Indian-style is alright as well. They do offer chairs in order to complete meditation, but I felt as if I was going to sit in a chair, the experience wouldn't of been the same.
With the participant in a sitting position, which is half comfortable and half painful (it has to be this way so you do not fall asleep nor can not concentrate on the meditation because you are in pain), he must then learn how to complete all proper movements and gestures. The eyes need to be at a 45 degree angle and almost shut, but just enough to kind of zone out, the hands must be placed in one hand in front of the other fashion with the thumbs almost touching. The closeness of the thumbs is very important and the instructor clearly emphasized that. The energy from the thumbs should be passing along and the participant should feel the energy, but with full contact the power of it is lost. The attempt to keep the thumbs near touching is also disciple and concentration for the meditation exercise. In addition to the thumbs, breathing is another form of concentration that is needed for the exercise. Controlling your breathing will help clear your mind and not let you go astray with many little things you could be thinking about. Thoughts that enter in your mind constantly is a big reason why we are always worked up and stressed out. The point of this meditation exercise is to clear your mind, and focus on nothing at all, which placed into practice is one of the hardest things to actually do. To have no thoughts or to force yourself to have no thoughts is actually a thought, but if done right, the person is not even cognizant of having no thoughts in the first place.
Zen is all about no words, no thoughts, and no action. Zen could be considered to most hardcore of the branches because it constantly challenges the participant to think more of himself, to be the wall you are looking at and totally see yourself embedded in it. The philosophy is above my head, even in Zen Buddhism class. The ideas seem really easy to follow and can help you reach enlightenment, but to do it is extremely difficult, especially for Americans. I feel as if Americans can survey and stand on the outside of any Eastern Religion, but to actually practice is would be too time consuming or too much work. An average American can not devote 30 plus hours to meditation along with other exercises, especially if they are working to pretty much survive. Taoism could be seen in the same light, the Tao, or the way, is the natural you that will conform to whatever you feel like, and you should do anything because it is your nature. But modern societies are so well groomed that to say I want to eat ice cream and never work because it is my nature is unacceptable.
I learned a lot from this experience, first off this is not for the faint of heart. This meditation does require some sort of flexibility and concentration, which is damn near impossible for me. I did finally clear my mind and slip into relaxation but would honestly have to reconsider weather I could endure another 2 hour meditation service, like I stated above, its really not geared for average Americans.
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