“Meditation is nothing special…

Zazen practice is the practice in which we resume our pure way of life, beyond any gaining idea, and beyond any profit. By practice we just keep our original nature as it is. There is no need to intellectualize about what our pure original nature is, because it is beyond our intellectual understanding. And there is no need to appreciate it, because it is beyond our appreciation. So just to sit, without any idea of gain, and with the purest intention, to remain as quiet as our original nature—this is our practice…

By continuing your practice with this sort of understanding, you can improve yourself.  But if you try to attain something without this understanding you cannot work on it properly. You lose yourself in the struggle for your goal; you achieve nothing; you just continue to suffer in your difficulties. But with the right understanding you can make some progress. Then whatever you do, even though not perfect, will be based on your inmost nature, and little by little something will be achieved.

There is something blasphemous in talking about how Buddhism is perfect as a philosophy or teaching without knowing what it is…

Which is more important: to attain enlightenment, or to attain enlightenment before you attain enlightenment ?” ~from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Suzuki Roshi.

The spiritual path is here-&-now because the possibility of awakening rests in the present moment, and the path is only concerned with exploring this single possibility. I believe that each and everyone of us would benefit greatly from a simple admission or occasional reminder that the present moment is endowed with the possibility of both liberation and suffering. While on the path, we are both ego-centric and enlightened. Therefore, the present moment is constantly reminding us of frustration and happiness, sorrow and joy, life and death. But it is also reminding us of the eternal possibility of transcending these choices, freedom. ~from Do You Really Want To Be Enlightened? by Ben Riggs

This is an amazing video. Alan Watts with his usual wit and intelligence speaks on Zen…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j8n3wujKH8

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Elephant 365 is an example of Elephant Journal’s commitment to the Mindful Life. Everyday we will offer a new reading regarding meditation practice and the spiritual path, all infused with a fresh perspective on traditional spirituality. If you would like to follow Elephant 365 on FaceBook click here and become a fan of Elephant Meditation by clicking the “Like” tab at the top of the page.