The Way of Still Sitting

 

Zen and the Practice of Presence

By the 6th century CE, Buddhism had travelled far beyond its Indian origins, taking root across East Asia. In China, it mingled with the wisdom of Taoism, giving rise to a uniquely spare and luminous tradition: Chan, which would later become Zen in Japan.

Zen is part of the Mahayāna stream of Buddhism, which developed a few centuries after the Buddha’s death, evolving more formally between the 1st century BCE and 3rd century CE. Mahāyāna emphasized emptiness (śūnyatā), bodhisattva ideals, and sometimes more ritual or symbolic practices. Around 520 CE, the monk Bodhidharma is credited with bringing a direct, meditation-based teaching (Dhyāna) from India to China, which merged with Taoist influence and became Chan.

Zen is not a religion of many words. Its essence cannot be captured by doctrine or dogma. Instead, it points directly – beyond scriptures, beyond concepts – to the truth that lives in this very moment.

Zen’s meditation practice, called Zazen, is deceptively simple (although definitely not easy). One sits. Upright, alert, unmoving. Attention is placed on the breath, the body, or simply on what is. The aim is not to achieve anything, but to become intimate with each moment … no matter how it arises. In doing so, the practitioner begins to experience the profound silence beneath the mind’s chatter.

Zazen developed through the teachings of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who arrived in China around 520 CE. His lineage passed through generations of Chinese masters before flowering fully in Japan, particularly through the schools of Soto and Rinzai Zen. Soto Zen emphasizes shikantaza—“just sitting”– while Rinzai Zen often includes koan study, using paradoxical questions to interrupt ordinary thinking and reveal deeper truth.

To practice Zen is to strip away. To sit not to become, but to be – fully, plainly, and awake.

Meditation Practice: Zazen (Just Sitting)

Zazen is often practiced in silence, in stillness, and in simplicity. It is the art of being without adornment.

“When you sit, just sit. When you walk, just walk. Above all, don’t wobble.” – Yunmen, 9th-century Zen master

Simple Zen inspired practice

1. Sit upright, ideally on a cushion or bench, spine tall but relaxed. Sit facing a blank wall to reduce any form of distraction.
2. Place hands in your lap in the cosmic mudra: left hand resting in right, thumbs lightly touching.
3. Lower your gaze or gently close the eyes.
4. Breathe naturally. Let awareness rest on the sensation of sitting. Noticing sounds, thoughts, or breath – without interference.
5. When the mind wanders, gently return to just sitting. Not to the breath, not to a mantra – just this moment.

This is not a practice of achieving peace. It is the practice of meeting the moment, exactly as it is.

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Type of Meditation: Zen / Shikantaza
Root Tradition: Zen Buddhism (China/Japan)
Key Region: China (Chan), Japan (Zen)
Rough Timeframe: 600 CE – Present