ZEN

Living your life – in the present moment.

ZEN is a current within Buddhism that was influenced by Daoism. It means something like “absorption”. For me, ZEN means living my life. That sounds simple. It is not. Recognising simplicity is extremely difficult for every one of us. We are more concerned with the whole world than with ourselves. Our ego is far too important to us.

ZEN is always linked to acting in the present moment. That makes it one of the most difficult, but most effective, paths there is.

Mindfulness means “being attentive in the mind”: experiencing every moment as it is. When you walk in the forest, are you already planning tomorrow or the shopping? The scent of the forest, the song of the birds and the rustling of the leaves are far more valuable. We have to learn this again.

What matters in all practice is our inner attitude. To learn, one certainly needs a teacher. But the actual process always takes place in the mind of the practitioner. They must experience ZEN for themselves. Nobody can help with that.

The daily practice

• Zazen – sitting in silence
• Kinhin – walking meditation
• Everyday tasks experienced with mindfulness

Wonderful exercises that bring the present moment very close to us, until we have become one with it.