ISSUE 02 | FEBRUARY 2020
BIKERS CLUB ® MAGAZINE | PAGE 42
How to practice Zen
Meditation
The practice of Zen meditation or Zazen is at
the heart of the Zen Buddhist experience.
Originally called Dhyana in India, Zen
meditation is a very simple yet precise
method of meditation, where the correct
posture is imperative.
The Room
Before starting your meditation, you need to find
a quiet and peaceful place where you will not be
disturbed. The room where you will practice in
should not be too dark or too bright, too warm or
too cold.
Various Postures
There are different ways that you can practice
Zen meditation. Traditionally, only the full lotus
position is used. If you lack flexibility, it is also
possible, yet least recommended, to practice
Zazen kneeling or to sit on a chair.
Zazen is practiced sitting on a zafu, a thick and
round cushion, in the full lotus (Kekkafuzu in
Japanese) or half-lotus position (Hankafuza in
Japanese). The purpose of this cushion is to
elevate the hips, thus forcing the knees to be
firmly rooted to the floor. This way, your Zazen
will be a lot more stable and also comfortable.
Additionally, you need to have a zabuton, which
is a rectangular mat that is placed under the zafu
to cushion the knees and legs. Ideally, it is
recommended that you buy a zafu but, as a
beginner, you can fold up a thick blancket to
work as a zafu. Zafu are usually around 13-14
inches in diameter but can be found in a variety
of sizes. You can also utilize a thick blanket as a