Zen Buddhism Practice

Meditation practice in Zen Buddhism employs two basic methods, which are combined with a simple breathing exercise known as the observation of breath count, which is widely used in traditional meditation techniques. Zazen and Koan Practice are the two schools of thought for practicing Zen Buddhism.

Zazen, also known as Zen Meditation, literally translates to Zen sitting. In other words, it is a type of seated meditation practiced in the Zen tradition. It entails sitting upright with good posture and paying attention to your stomach breath until your mind is fully alert and present in the present moment. The goal of Zazen is to control one's attention. During Zen Meditation, people usually sit in the lotus position or with their logs crossed and focus their attention inward.

In Koan Zen, riddles and puzzles are designed in such a way that they cannot be solved intellectually. A Koan is a paradoxical or enigmatic statement or question about reality that we are unable to comprehend with our conceptual mind. Thinking about these conundrums is part of a prescribed curriculum that Zen students must follow. "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" is one of the most popular Koans. The goal of the practice is to break down the conceptual mind's barriers.