The Rinzai Zen Way by Meido Moore

Author:Meido Moore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 2018-03-27T04:00:00+00:00

Fig. 23: Complete zazen posture, side view

12

MEDITATION—THE BREATH

Even though one may be hemmed in by worldly cares or tied down by guests who require elaborate attention, the source of strength two inches below the navel must naturally be filled with the vital breath, and at no time may it be allowed to disperse. This area should be pendulous and well rounded, somewhat like a new ball that has yet to be used.

—HAKUIN1

ONE REASON FOR our detailed emphasis on zazen posture is that it allows deep breathing of great power to manifest. Practitioners have long observed that the quality of one’s breathing has a dramatic effect on both the energetic system and mind. Cultivation of the breath is therefore crucial, and its mastery is among the factors determining the depth and clarity of our meditation. To be more exact: it is by using breath and posture to unify the mind and energetic currents at the navel energy center (tanden) that a samadhi of the greatest depth and subtlety may be cultivated. This also reveals the means by which insight will ultimately be made to permeate the body.

Luckily, breathing is a process that is partly under our conscious control. Thus we are able to train it, and there are many ways to do so. In general, it may be said that breath practices in Rinzai Zen are grouped into four categories revealing a progressive training:

1. Methods of establishing (or reestablishing) natural abdominal breathing

2. Taking the latter as a foundation, methods of cultivating a trained breathing focused on the tanden

3. Methods of increasing the depth and energetic vitality of the tanden-focused breath

4. Finally, methods of lengthening, refining, and integrating the tanden-focused breath so that it is subtle and constant, in both meditation and daily activity

To go deeply into all the methods used in such training is beyond the scope of this book. But in this chapter we will learn a few basic practices suitable for beginners.

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