How to Zen

Zen Things: 1. Do one thing at a time 2. Do it slowly and deliberately 3. Do it completely 4. Do less 5. Put space between things 6. Develop rituals 7. Designate time for certain things 8. Devote time to sitting 9. Smile and serve others 10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation 11. Think about what is necessary 12. Live simply
How to Zen

Here is a little guideline on how to bring more peace into your life. By doing less and not multi-tasking so much it is easier to be at peace. While doing your chores like washing the dishes make it a meditation and imagine yourself bathing the baby Buddha. It makes doing the dishes much easier.

Enlightenment

If I could define enlightenment briefly I would say it is the quiet acceptance of what is. - Wayne Dyer
Enlightenment

This quote by Wayne Dyer I am not sure if I agree with or not. As a very brief definition, it may suffice, but enlightenment is a very funny thing to define.

It has been a very closely guarded secret as to what it is exactly. Over the centuries it has been described very vaguely and not what happens exactly. For example, in one book it talks about how the student was stricken by a ruler then enlightenment struck him! The reason I hypothesize for them not explaining enlightenment in detail is that if you knew what it is going to be like exactly you will never know for sure if you attained enlightenment.

It is an incredible experience that when it happens your whole world changes and I don’t know about you but if I experience something almost unbelievable and magical and then read about the experience later it is more believable to me. I know that the experience REALLY did happen instead of manifested itself from my sub-conscience mind. An example of this is while meditating I felt a cold spot in the room then followed it around for a while then sat still and relaxed my eyes and saw a beam of light coming from the area. The funny thing about this beam of light is that it CURVED! I never heard or read about anything like that before but read about it in a book later about it being a sort of portal from another dimension. For something as incredible as this it was almost unbelievable if I didn’t see it with my own eyes and if I had read about it first I would second guess myself if I really did see it or imagine it from the book that I read.

The book, “The Three Pillars of Zen” is the first book that described enlightenment in great detail on what it really is like. I had achieved enlightenment and it was a most incredible experience for me. To the point of the complete understanding that I received when I looked out the window and saw a woman sweeping the sidewalk outside, I started to cry because I saw how beautiful it really was. I was connected to everything and did not have any unanswered questions at all. I was aware of the past, present, and future at the same time briefly (about six hours) and saw myself in everything and how we were all connected. I thought I had started to be driven mad until I read someone else having the same experience in the book, “Hardcore Zen” written by Brad Warner who surprisingly was a punk rocker.

Unfortunately, once this enlightenment was over I was back to being a human force and wish I could stay that way forever. I suppose being a spiritual being having a human experience limits this but at least I know what it will be like once this body dies. Even though I do not agree 100% on this quote I do know that it will bring you a more peaceful life.

20 Minutes or an Hour

"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour" - Old Zen Saying
20 Minutes or an Hour

20 Minutes or an Hour? This old zen saying I read in many books already.

Every time I feel I don’t have time to meditate this phrase pops in my head.

You should never be too busy for yourself and if you feel that you then take longer to meditate and heal yourself.

What you Gain and Lose from Meditation

Buddha was asked, "What have you gained from meditation?" He replied "Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death."
What you Gain and Lose from Meditation

Buddha’s response makes the person who asked the question remember it even more just because of the unexpected shock value at first.

This is an excellent way of teaching that will make the student remember the lesson even more. Buddha was good at this. I know there are some Buddha quotes out there on the internet that is not actually from the Buddha. There is a site dedicated to straightening this out at https://fakebuddhaquotes.com/, but who knows how accurate this website is? Be careful of what you read and believe on the internet. Question everything! Even this website! These posts are my own opinions that I like to share hoping that they will help whoever is reading them. The real truth is inside of you, you will never find it outside of you. One way to practice this is to read something and ‘feel’ how it resonates with you.

Despite the quote, I have gained peace of mind and relaxation when meditating. The only thing I am guilty of is that I do not spend enough time meditating giving the excuse of having to do too much in my life.

“You should meditate twenty minutes a day and if you don’t have enough time then you should meditate for an hour!” – From an old Zen book I read.

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