Zazen: Just Sitting

Zazen (sitting meditation) is the heart of Zen practice. You sit in a specific posture, focus on your breath, and observe whatever arises in your mind without grasping or rejecting it. Thoughts come. You watch them pass. That is the entire practice.

The simplicity is deceptive. Sitting still for extended periods forces you to confront everything you normally avoid — anxiety, boredom, physical discomfort, the relentless chatter of your mind. Zazen does not silence the mind. It reveals that you are not your thoughts.