Zen

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Zen is a branch of Buddhism introduced into Japan in the 12th century, where it has thrived ever since. Zen is a system of sustained discipline and meditation aimed at transforming the everyday experience of its followers through the traditional Buddhist teachings of insight and self-awareness. Where Zen differs from Buddhism is in its anti-rational approach, with more of an emphasis on zazen (meditation) and direct experience without conscious reasoning.

Zen meditation is geared towards gaining direct insight into oneself at a level too deep to be expressed in words. This kind of transcendental meditation leads to enlightenment. As in other forms of Buddhism, Zen also teaches that accepting the world as it is and abandonng selfish desires are essential steps in the quest for enlightenment.

This acquiescence to the 'unsatisfactoriness', instability and impermanence of life, as described in the earlier section on Buddhism, reaches out into every aspect of life, including self-identity. A sense of a fixed personal identity is seen to be illusory, as everything on earth is impermanent and mutable, including the 'self.

Zen teaching therefore concentrates on encouraging the individual to discard any established self-image or notion of ego, thereby acknowledging and embracing the transience of existence. With each moment of insight, the influence exertd by the personal T on the individual's way of thinking lessens and a new, more profound understanding develops. This kind of understanding is cultivated through the use of three main techniques: daily life practice, meditation, and anecdotal wisdom.

Daily life practice

The aim is to live your life according to the Buddhist principle of 'mindfulness', which means being continually aware of all your own actions and responses. Again, this entails adhering to the Noble Eightfold Path and releasing yourself from preconceptions and driving desires, thus quashing the wilful, self-serving side of the personality. In this state, happiness and suffering are equally gratefully received as part of the ever-changing pattern of life.

Meditation

The Zen form of meditation, known as zazen, is really a way of perfecting daily-life practice. It encourages 'stillness' and 'mindfulness', eventually enabling the meditator to carry thought beyond the limits of the intellect by allowing thoughts to come and go freely, without making judgements on them. Ultimately, the person reaches a state of heightened awareness, without the intrusion of a personal T who is aware.

The practising of zazen is slightly ritualized-the meditator always sits cross-legged on a cushion, with the back absolutely straight, head upright, and the centre of gravity completely aligned so that weight is evenly distributed around the body.

Many meditative exercises centre on concentrating on one's own breathing, and the simplest Zen meditation focuses on this principle. The meditator silently counts each exhalation of breath. The idea is to count from one up to ten without any other thoughts crossing the mind. When a thought does arise, the sitter must expel it and restart the count from one.

Trying this at home will show you just how hard it is to free the mind from rational interjecture, but if you persevere you will also begin to discover the profound states of calm that can be experienced. Zen practitioners meditate daily, either privately or in groups, and the duration of a meditative session can be infinitely variable.

Anecdotal wisdom

One of the more notorious elements of Zen philosophy is its subscription to the use of symbolic stories, riddles and paradoxes. There are usually no firm conclusions to be drawn from these stories through contemplation, rather the wisdom comes from accepting that there is no right answer. These puzzles confront the intellect with a wall that no amount of logical reasoning can surmount.

The hope is that intuitive insight will take over and instinctively offer a response 'born of the immediate moment' -a smile, an exclamation, the sight of an otter shaking itself, the sound of the wind in the trees-moments of experience that intrinsically define existence. The answer is, in a sense, to 'un-ask' the question and to realize that the problem rests in calling it a problem. Probably the best-known example of a Zen puzzle is: 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?'

If you wish to expand your mind and heighten your awareness through this particular philosophy, you must find a good teacher, as Zen is taught as a form of apprenticeship. Most major cities in Britain now have some form of Buddhist Society, where you will be able to receive information about finding a teacher in your area.