Zen

Oh what a joy to read your responses! I became involved in zen practice about 7 years ago, have now taken vows , not as a nun, I'm too attached to my hair! But more as a sort of, yes, this belief system fits me , way.
It is about mindfulness in every moment, but not in an attached, grasping, sort of way.
It's roots are from the Buddha through disciples in china and Japan but now there is a western zen set up.
Yes, there's lots of sitting in front of a blank wall, called zazen. Partly as a discipline to let go of attachment to thoughts and also practice at being present in each moment. I do find when I'm fully present in each moment I feel more compassionate, less judgemental etc etc.
Lovely to hear your responses!

I haven't read that alternativegran. Mindfulness and meditation seem to be the way to go currently. I am re-starting yoga, next week, and hope to become more mindful instantly.

mrsbennet You have sent me down memory lane.

I can't sit any more, but I'm burning the midnight oil re-reading Philip Kapleau's The Three Pillars of Zen? Doubt anyone would know of it now, (must have been over 40 years ago we bought it), but it was one of the first books to present Zen in an authentic way to Westerners. The enlightenment accounts are still moving.

A quick google suggests Zen Budhism originated in China. It's more Zen - that's all I could understand in a quick read.

Aren't there Zen Budhists? Or are they totally different?

G23, great link, for which many thanks. I only wish my young poodle cross was even slightly zen.

Mollie - that sounds a bit like letting go of attachment to individuals and to things, which my limited understanding is something budhists strive towards. Is it all about letting go of attempts to control things, and appreciating the god of small things? I shall have a google on these interesting subjects. Peace to all

I'm curious about almost all spiritual/religious philosophies including Zen although my understanding of it might be way off track. It seems that Zen is about not minding, almost totally disconnecting from every day life in the pursuit of the ultimate zen experience. I might have got that wrong so am happy to be put right. The problem with that, for me, is that I think we are already a very disconnected civilisation and we need to be more connected and caring and concerned about people/each other.

Like this one here iam64 ?

www.gransnet.com/forums/pictures/1203657-Inner-Peace

I have read a bit on zen over the years, and like some of the concepts, but think practicing it seriously would be hard

One of my husband's books Zen and the art of Motorcyle Maintenance by Robert Persig is still on my bookshelves, It isn't an easy book, at least not for me, and I needed to read it several times, it is made more poignant by the fact that his son, who traveled with him in the book died after a mugging.

Zen of life always makes me smile. I have a smashing photograph called the zen of dogs, in which a dog is doing a yoga pose.

Not this gran, mrsbennet but Mr. Ffinn likes, occasionally, to bring into his life a little Zen philosophy.