The importance of listening to silence in Zen practice. In Zen practice, listening to silence is not “ listening to “nothing.” It is considered a fundamental gateway to experience our genuine self,, and concrete reality both of them exempt  from our ongoing noisy mind.  Here is why cultivating an ear for silence is central to […]

THINKING THOUGHTLESSLY : WHAT DOES THAT MEAN & HOW TO APPLY IT?  In Zen, "thinking thoughtlessly" (often associated with the Japanese term Mushin, or ("no-mind" / Don’t know mind / Beginning mind) isn't about becoming brainless.  It’s a state of spontaneous, non analytic , non judgmemtal unattached awareness about x, y ,z Example: Imagine you […]

Being in the moment: a key foundation in Zen philosophy, teaching and practice. Why?  In  Zen, reality is only found in this immediate moment since the  past is dead, and the future not yet born. Experiencing genuine, concrete reality of the moment - good or bad- is the only way to approach truthful reality as […]

What is a "don't know" mind in Zen In Zen, “don’t know mind” is the clear, open awareness that appears when we drop all our mindset thoughts , ideas, judgment, about  ourselves, about others, and meet the reality of the current moment directly, as it is. It is not stupidity or vagueness, or cowardise, but […]