Sunset Za Zen

From left to right : Helen, Yuriko, Obosan, Seth, Me, Mark & Fuko.

The monks at the local Zen (Japanese Buddhism) temple invite us woofers over for meditation on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The evening starts with the monks chanting Sanskrit and then a 20 minute meditation at sunset, hence the name Sunset Za Zen. 

It feels good to sit (mentally, not physically) and let my mind wander without any interruptions, just my own thoughts. Mainly I just think about how my mind can overcome the physical pain of sitting cross legged, yes for inflexible people like me it hurts for more than 5 minutes!

Sometimes when im not thinking of pain i try to do as they (the monks)  say and try to think of nothing, that means if a thought comes to mind just let it go (very difficult to say the least). 

The essence of Zen buddhism is to  practice meditation based on relinquishing oneself and understand impermanence, simply emptying the mind of everything. As a part of training for the monks they must meditate many hours everyday, answer metaphysical questions and practice daily routines like eating, cleaning, bathing going to the toilet etc.