Daily Zenscape: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 31, 2013

Between truth and the search for the truth, I opt for the second.
~Bernard Berenson

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 30, 2013

When you come into the Zen room, try to keep your body and mind in shape. The Zen room is a battlefield. Be trained in zazen! That is your basic training: your boot camp. It is also the training for daily life.
~Sokei-an Sasaki

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 29, 2013

Life is painful, suffering is optional.
~Sylvia Boorstein

Monday, January 28, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 28, 2013

It was Upaka, the heretic, who met the Buddha and inquired, "Your countenance is serene, your complexion pure and bright. Who is your teacher?"
"I have no teacher," the Buddha replied in his immensely important answer. "I am the All-Enlightened One. I shall go to Benares to set in motion the Wheel of the Law. I shall beat the drum of the Immortal in the darkness of the world."
~Buddhist Story

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 27, 2013

Whoever knows himself, knows God.
~Zen Saying

Saturday, January 26, 2013

List of Zen-based eBooks

Zen-based eBooks

These are the titles of eBooks that I have found that relate to Zen and/or Meditation. All of these eBooks can be found on Amazon.com and are for any Kindle. When I found them myself, only earlier this month, and they were all free of charge. I cannot say for sure that they are free as of now as the prices change daily on Amazon.com. The list of eBooks I have are as followed -

An Easy Guide to Meditation by Roy Eugene Davis

Bushido - The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe, A.M., Ph.D.

The Book of Tea by Okakura, Kakuzo

Zen Culture by Thomas Hoover

Instant Yoga by Infinite Ideas

The Brilliant Book of Calm by Tania Ahsan (I will be posting each of these ideas in their own post soon from this eBook)

Meditation - The Gift Inside : How to meditate to quiet your mind, find your inner peace and lasting happiness. By Howard VanEs, M.A.

The Ancient Pain Control Stress Management Relaxation Technique by Karen James

The Religion of the Samurai - A Study of Zen Philosophy and Discipline in China and Japan by Kaiten Nukariya

Screw Stress! Proven Relaxation Techniques to Help You Live Stress Free! by Katrina Abiasi

Buddhism and Buddhist - Basics for Beginners. 92 Tips On How To Practice Mindfulness, Meditation, Letting Go, And For Living In The Present Moment. By Kayla Moore

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 26, 2013

Think the non-thought.
~Dogen

Friday, January 25, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 25, 2013

He who submits his time, who submits when his work is done, will find no room for either sorrow or rejoicing.
~Chuang-Tzu

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 24, 2013

The natural order of things includes us, and its laws are our laws. We are an endless moving stream in an endless moving stream.
~Jisho Warner

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Zen Tip #6 - Benefits of Zen/Meditation

These are benefits that come from the eBook, "An Easy Guide to Meditation" by Roy Eugene Davis.

While the primary purpose of meditation practice is to facilitate awakened spiritual consciousness, the side-benefits which contribute to our wellness and improved function are several:

-Mental transformations and thinking processes become more organized as the result of meditative calmness and influence of refined states of consciousness.

-The body's immune system is strengthened and physiological functions are encouraged to be more balanced and efficient.

-Biologic aging processes are slowed. Older, long-term meditators are mentally and physically younger than their calendar years might suggest.

   -Stress symptoms are reduced. The nervous system is refreshed and enlivened, allowing awareness to be more easily processed through it.

   -Regenerative energies are awakened. These, directed by innate intelligence, vitalize the body, empower the mind, and have restorative and healing influences.

   -Intellectual skills are improved, causing delusions and illusions to be dispelled. Intuition awakens, allowing us to directly know whatever we desire to know and to experience a vivid sense of unerring inner guidance.

   -Appreciation for living is enchanced.

   -Creativity is stimulated.

   -Innate spiritual qualities awaken, enabling us to be more insightful, and functionally skillful.

   -Rapid, more satisfying, authentic spiritual growth is nurtured because body, mind, and awareness is beneficially influenced by refined superconscious states.

I hope that this information proves to be helpful. I shall soon be posting within the next few days, a list of eBooks that I have found to be not only informative but also helpful as well in my meditation(s).

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 23, 2013

One day a monk spoke bitterly to the Buddha. All he wanted to talk about was the unbearable sorrows of the world. The Buddha remained silent while the monk talked, then a faint smile appeared on his face.
He pointed to the ground below his feed and said: "On this earth I have attained awakening."
~Buddhist Mondo

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 22, 2013

This is your world, it is your feast....Look at the greatness of the whole thing. Look! Don't hesitate - look! Open your eyes. Don't blink, and look, look, look further.
~Chogyam Trungpa

Monday, January 21, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 21, 2013

Perfect does not mean perfect actions in a perfect world, but appropriate actions in an imperfect one.
~R.H. Blyth

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 20, 2013

The greatest prayer is patience.
~The Buddha

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 19, 2013

When the Soul speaks, then -alas!- it is no longer the Soul that speaks.
~Zen Saying

Friday, January 18, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 18, 2013

As Layman P'ang was dying his friend, the Governor Yu Ti Yu, came to visit one last time. P'ang put his head on his friend's knee and spoke his last words:
"I beg you, see all phenomenon as empty. Beware of thinking as real what is non-existent. Take care of yourself in this world of shadows and echoes."
~Hsuan-Chien

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 17, 2013

Calm is the lamp and insight is the light. In all action, walking or resting, sitting or sleeping, always act with a straightforward heart: that is the samadhi of one-mindedness. And in all places and all times, always act with intelligence: that is the prajna-paramita. Sitting motionless is no dhyana; introspection of your own mind is no dhyana; and looking inward at your own calmness is no dyhana.
~Hui-Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 16, 2013

No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them.
~Alan Watts

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 15, 2013

The way is near at hand, but people always go far away looking for it.
~Random Zen Saying

Monday, January 14, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 14, 2013

The joy of Zen is to be found in doing the dishes, and by the same token, in doing whatever needs to be done. Delight in reality will not exclude participation in art and science or any effort to change, to shape and direct, for effort is a present part of the world as much as trees and mountains, and they are in process too.
~Van Meter Ames

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 13, 2013

The moon of mind comprehends all the universe in its light.
~Ban-zan

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 12, 2013

Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know.
~Lao-Tsu

Friday, January 11, 2013

Zen Tip #5 - Next Steps

Every day we are learning more about the benefits of meditation: physical and mental well-being, compassion, patience, calm, a more flexible mind, strengthened immune system, sharper memory - it's extraordinary!

Whether it's Zen you're after, or just a peaceful moment in the day, meditation will shape your life as you make a habit out of it.

Just remember; It's still just your life.

And that's wonderful.

"Zen," the last master Shunryu Suzuki said, "is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine."

Or to paraphrase another writer, "first ecstasy, then the laundry."

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 11, 2013

I go among trees and sit still. All my stirring becomes quiet around me like circles on water.
~Wendell Berry

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Zen Tip #4 - Posture: The Mind

The Chinese have often called the mind a wild horse. The reasoning behind this is that thoughts don't slow down, no matter how hard we try to impede them.

Instead we should acknowledge each one, then let it drift away.

Often, the first technique of zazen, which is seated meditation, is counting your breath.

In order to do this, you begin counting each inhalation and exhalation. When you reach ten, start over. Your breathing should be deep, slow, easy and regular.

Of course, the mind is going to rebel and you will lose count. When you do, just start return to one and start again.

Counting your breath can be a complete lifetime's practice; but even if you move on to koans or other forms of meditation, it will always remain an invaluable tool.

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 10, 2013

In this very breath that we take now lies the secret that all great teachers try to tell us.
~Peter Matthiessen

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Zen Tip #3 - Posture: The Body

Like a New Year's resolution, the expression "belly forward, buttocks back" is an encouraging mantra - and a useful reminder - of how to approach life.

On the zafu, it literally means let the belly hang, which helps pitch the spine into its natural curve.

Keep you chest out, head up and chin slightly tucked in.

Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, your shoulders should be in line with your hips.

Leave your eyes open, staring but not focusing at a spot on the floor just a few feet ahead.

Form your hands into a mudra, this is done by resting your right palm face up on your lap and your left palm face up inside.

Your thumbs should be create an oval, their tips barely touching.

The final step is to rock from side to side, starting with wide arcs and slowly settling in until you're as unmovable as a mountain.

I am also going to include a picture of mudra, or the position your hands should be in. Again I hope you found this Zen Tip very helpful and I shall see you all again tomorrow.

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 9, 2013

Learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this life.
~Sogyal Rinpoche

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Zen Tip #2 - Posture: The Legs

Stability is the key to proper posture, and the key to stability is in the legs.

Traditionally, this means sitting in the full-lotus position, in which the legs are crossed with both feet resting atop opposite thighs.

However, many of us are not disposed to this position.

The half-lotus, which is having only one foot in the lap is a bit easier.

If that doesn't work, try the Burmese position. This position is done by placing one leg in front of the other with both ankles on the mat, or the seiza. This essentially is a combination of kneeling and sitting and can often be helped with a special stool.

It's not the exact position that matters, but the ability to sit without fatigue.

It's find to sit in a chair if that's what's most comfortable for you. Some even lay down and allow themselves to fully relax, it's all about what position is most comfortable for you to meditate.

I am including a picture of the positions that I have named in this post, I hope it is very helpful to you all.

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 8, 2013

Contemplation is the loving sense of this life, this presence and this eternity.
~Thomas Merton

Monday, January 7, 2013

Zen Tip #1 - Explore the nature of Zen

Explore the nature of Zen "where you are."

Find a quiet, tranquil corner in your home that is far from the hustle and bustle of the day and make it your "zendo." A zendo is your meditation place.

Wear loose-fitting clothing. There is no need for special exercise pants or the latest techno-fabric shirt. The only equipment you may want is a zafu, which is a thick round cushion stuffed with kapok, or buckwheat shells. However, when first starting meditation any sort of thick pillow will do.

Another item that may also be proven useful is a zabuton. A zabuton is a square pad that cushions the knees. But if you don't have a zabuton, then a blanket or two that are folded in a square works equally as well.

Be sure that you free yourself from distraction. You can do this by considering using a timer or a timer app, in order to keep track of your meditation period.

I hope that this Zen Tip helps anyone who happens to come across it. I shall be posting more as soon as I can and I hope that everyone is enjoying the Daily Zen Quotes. Again I welcome anyone who has a request on what else they would like to see on this blog to please feel free and leave a comment below. I would love to hear more ideas. Well until tomorrow.

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 7, 2013

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?
~Dogen

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 6, 2013

By the practice of Zen this becomes a world of mutual respect.
~Sogen Asahina

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 5, 2013

If you ask me a question I don't know, I'm not going to answer.
~Yogi Berra

Friday, January 4, 2013

Daily Zen Quote - Jan. 4, 2013

To one who has had the experience there is no need to explain it. To one who was not, there is no way to explain it. What to do but to exclaim it!
~Reikichi Kita & Kiichi Nagaya

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Daily Zen Quote, Jan. 3, 2013

See into life. Don't just look at it.
~Anne Baxter

Daily Zen Quote, Jan. 2, 2013

All sentient beings in this world have perfect wisdom and complete virtue, they simply do not know about it.
~The Buddha

Daily Zen Quote, Jan. 1, 2013

There is no beginning. There is no beginning of that beginning...There is something. There is nothing.
~Chuang-Tzu

Welcome to Zenscape!

Hello and welcome to Zenscape. I decided to start this blog in order to share my love and interest in Zen and the art of meditation. This blog will consist of daily Zen quotes, which I will post daily. I will also post excerpts from Zen novels that I have read, or I am currently reading as well as advice for meditation. I hope that everyone who reads this blog will enjoy it. Please feel free to comment your response to any post or if any of you have request on what you would like to see on this blog then also feel free to comment as well. I love getting feedback from my readers. Well I shall be posting three more blog posts tonight, as I actually planned on starting this blog on Jan. 1, but I am a little behind schedule. Not much, so it'll be easy for me to each up. Also I know that some of the quotes will be short and I apologize but that is how I wish to have my blog set up when it comes to posting the Zen quotes.
But after these few post, I will be posting daily quotes as I stated up above, along with random advice blogs, excerpts from Zen novels, requests, and even a random pictures. Thank you all once again for reading this blog and I hope you all enjoy it.