Zen is about teachings that are fundamentally about how humans can live in this world. It’s about habits, ideas and hints for living a happy life stripped of wasteful things. The essence of Zen is in the beauty of simple things.
The word Zen is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Dhyana’ – which means quiet contemplation. As human beings, we possess within us everything we need from the beginning. When we encounter our pure and true self, that is enlightenment— satori.
This is a 100-chapter simple book, each chapter about a page each touching on one aspect of life. We can spend as less as 5 min in each chapter, or spent a lifetime reflecting on each topic.
Out of the 100 chapters, I decided to try out just one thing from this reading. “Attempting to define things as good or bad breeds worry and stress” – the book says
I tend to define state of affairs as good/bad and I have got feedbacks from all around that I need to stop doing this! I remember, I started this style a long time back after I read “7 habits of effective people” which preached about having your own set of values and rights/wrong and stick to it, irrespective of the situation/ people around you. The practice did help me to become effective (at work and in life), but not necessarily stress-free. So, may be at work, I will continue to stick to my own rights/wrongs. But socially, I am going to experiment not to define aspects as “good/bad” and re-evaluate my stress level.
Also, I am beginning to increasingly notice the Eastern Philosophy of Life is in stark contrast to the ideologies and beliefs of the Western World. I had changed my thought process quite a bit after being in a highly competitive Western environment for the last 15 years of my life. But may be its time, to reflect and change some of my set behavior, coz the Western world typically focusses on productivity and economics and not necessarily on inner peace.
Life is all about experiments, a good time to start, now that I’m entering the 2nd phase of it – The middle age!
Some interesting words from the book:
- Munen Muso: A state of being free from worldly desires and distracting thoughts.
- Ichigyo Zanmai: Strive for just one thing at a time.
- Samadhi: State of intense concentration achieved through meditation.
- Mushiryo: “Beyond thinking”. By emptying our mind, we enable a state of nothingness, a state in which we retain nothing in ourselves.
- Uchimizu: Japanese practice of sprinkling water outside a gate. I have seen in India too some houses do this.
- Okagesama de: “Everything is fine, Thank God”. This is the response to “How are you?” Always include gratitude in everything.
- ichi-go ichi-e: “once in a lifetime.” Treasure each and every encounter with another person. We may never have another meeting with this person in our life, for all we know. Have only very few connections, but with those you have, have very deep meaningful ones.
- The three poisons: greed, anger, ignorance
Manju Nambiar 