Perspectives on Meditation, Zen Buddhism, and Modern Spirituality Mainstream meditation practice is slowly becoming unified into several
distinct traditions largely based on ancient Buddhist practice. The three major categories are: 1.) meditation based on Vipassana, a Theravada Buddhist practice; 2.) meditation based on Zen Buddhism from Japan; 3.) assorted, mottled meditative practices based on several traditions, including modern science and western religions. Looking closely, two of these categories might be classified as more visible and accepted whereas the third category, Vipassana, is still relatively fringe in popular culture, although popular amongst the masses who are interested in meditation broadly. Meditation based on the smorgasbord of practices might be closely aligned with this modern Western sense of spirituality without a God or gods. That leaves us with meditation based on Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism, like most Japanese cultural practices, is one of the cleanest and streamlined of spiritual practices in the world since it emphasizes a carefully orchestrated symphony of actions that are to be repeated ad infinitum. Zen Buddhist meditation is three-fold. First, there is a period of chanting, usually the Heart Sutra. This chanting is usually accompanied by a beating of a drum if one is practicing meditation at a temple. Next, there is sitting meditation for approximately 30 minutes. In this meditation, one's eyes are open, contrary to popular belief, and focused on a singular point ahead. The Zen master will walk row-by-row helping students to adjust their posture, making sure that the back is straight, neck aligned, and eyes open. Lastly, the third facet of Zen meditation is walking meditation. This is a simple, quiet walk around the room, the temple, or another place. Hands are generally folder and the steps are short. After 30 minutes of walking, students may proceed back to sitting meditation, called Zazen. Depending on how long the meditation session lasts, a practitioner will alternate between sitting and walking meditations. Classically, different Japanese Zen schools may have different perspectives on both form of the meditation and meanings of certain practices, but in a place like the United States, where regimens are easily changed to suit the desires of the practitioners, many cultural elements are eliminated altogether, such as the hitting of a wooden block to signal the end of sitting meditation.
The philosophy behind Zen meditation is likely what is most appealing to modern spiritualists. Zen teaches that Zen may be applied anywhere, which is symbolically represented during walking meditation. Mindfulness and one-pointed emphasis on the task at hand is an important technique that takes many years, if not lifetimes, to completely master. Zen masters will apply these lessons to everything in their life, such as calligraphy or even eating. A meditation practice that embraces the flexibility of modern life is a meditation practice that embraces the modern man and his or her demands. In contrast, Vipassana meditation cannot be practiced or applied anywhere in the same way Zen can. Vipassana emphasizes closed eyes and breath control, techniques that should be practiced in a quiet, closed room while sitting cross-legged. Beyond the applicability of having a so-called "Zen Mind," Zen Buddhist meditation can fit nicely into modern spirituality because it all but removes any sort of focus on a divine figure. Rather, since Zen Buddhism attempts to awaken the inner Buddha nature, i.e., the Buddha-seed, Buddha-embryo, or Buddha-dhatu in Sanskrit, it encourages a self-awakening rather than a discovery of a supernatural entity. In addition, Zen Buddhism describes the concept of Shunyata, or emptiness, as the identification of spirituality without a deity. Shunyata offers a solution to many modern world problems by providing a means for analysis or deconstruction. Since everything is constructed from a series of constituent parts that may not hold any meaning separately, everything can be broken down into its constituent parts to be analyzed. Similarly, this feat of logic can be applied for nearly any problem, mental, emotional, or social. Breaking the problem down into its separate parts allows one to realize that the problem itself is very nearly always empty and devoid of an essential nature. It is only when people enjoin these separate constituent parts together into the problem when the problem as defined in the dictionary arises. When it is all said and done, Zen Buddhism is a great tool for modern spiritual seekers for its practicality and for its underlying philosophy.
