Zen is a state of mind, a feeling, a way of being. It’s about being in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest.
In order to feel more zen in your life, you need to change your mindset and adopt new habits that will help you live a happier life.
If you have ever tried meditation or mindfulness, then you will have come across Zen Buddhism.
There are many similarities between these two practices since both are about being present in the moment and experiencing life as it happens around you.
Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that was founded in China during the 6th century CE.
The word Zen comes from the Sanskrit term dhyana, which means meditation and deep absorption in thought.
It has also been referred to as Ch’an (which is its Chinese pronunciation), but this term is more commonly used when referring to the Chinese language variant of the tradition or when contrasting it with Korean Seon or Japanese Zen.
The traditional story of Zen goes back to a time before written history, when an Indian monk named Bodhidharma was traveling through China teaching about meditation and enlightenment.
He eventually settled on Mount Song in Luoyang province, where he sat for nine years facing a wall meditating without moving until he became known as “The Wall-Gazing Brahmin” (Ch’an).
His followers called themselves “people who sit and do not lie down” (Chen-kao chi-tso). This tradition later evolved into what we know today as Ch’an Buddhism, or Zen.
Ch’an practice focuses on understanding reality by observing one’s own mind and body rather than thinking about them analytically.
The practice of Zen Buddhism is not just about sitting down and meditating for hours at a time.
It’s also about being mindful throughout your day-to-day life so that you’re able to see things from a different perspective and appreciate what’s happening around you at any given time.
The idea behind this style of living is to understand that there is more to life than just material possessions and financial success; there’s also a spiritual dimension that needs nurturing too.
Zen Buddhists believe that material possessions can easily distract us from our true purpose in life — which is to find happiness by helping others achieve this same state of mind.
Here are 9 things to add to your daily routine to feel more zen:
- Meditate
Meditation can help you relax and focus on the here and now. It’s not just about clearing your mind; it’s also about training yourself to be present in any situation, even when you’re stressed out or angry. Meditation can help you connect with yourself so that you can live each day with more awareness, kindness and happiness. - Drink water first thing in the morning.
Drinking water first thing in the morning helps flush out toxins from our system and also helps us stay hydrated throughout the day. It gives us enough energy to start our day afresh without feeling tired or lethargic. - Practice yoga or Tai Chi
Yoga is an ancient tradition that involves physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art form that combines slow movements with deep breathing exercises to improve one’s health and well-being. Both practices promote mindfulness by encouraging practitioners to focus on their breath while performing specific poses or movements. Both practices have been proven effective for improving mental health conditions such as anxiety & depression -
Move Around A Bit After Waking Up
If possible, move around a bit after waking up because this helps wake up our body slowly instead of jumping straight into work or school straight away . - Practice smiling at everyone you meet on the street (even if they don’t smile back!). It will make your day better and theirs too! Give yourself permission to do this even if it’s not natural for you — sometimes we need permission from within ourselves to do things that make us happy!
- Skip social media for one day a week (or as much as possible). Social media can be addictive and take up lots of time that could be spent doing something else more meaningful than scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos all day long! Try this “unplugging
- Start your day with a moment of silence.
It can be hard to find the time and space for meditation, but it’s absolutely worth it. A quick minute of silence will help you start your day on the right foot and center yourself before you go into your busy schedule. - Take walks outside whenever possible — even if it’s just around your neighborhood or at work during lunch break! Walking outdoors is great because it gets all kinds of benefits from being outside such as vitamin D production.
- Meditate at night before bed.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep, try meditating for 10 minutes before going to sleep. Meditation can help relax your body and mind, which helps you get a good night’s rest.
From the outside, it can seem like the zen life is one of meditation and yoga, but it’s also about how we approach our daily lives.
By finding moments to be present in our daily routines — no matter how small — we can become more mindful, more content and more calm.
What is Zen Meditation?
Zen meditation is a form of mindfulness that focuses on the breath, body and mind. It’s often practiced in silence or with soft music playing in the background.
Zen meditation has its roots in Buddhism, but it doesn’t have to be religious — you can practice it for your own well-being. Here’s what you need to know about Zen meditation: Zen meditation isn’t exclusive to Buddhists.
The word “zen” comes from the Sanskrit term dhyana, which means “meditation.” It was first used by early Buddhists to describe their meditative practices. Today, many people use the term “zen” to mean any type of meditation that focuses on breathing and being present in the moment, including nonreligious practices like mindfulness.
In fact, many people who practice Zen meditation aren’t religious at all! They may have learned about it through yoga or another form of exercise or therapy, or they may simply find it relaxing after a long day at work or school.
You don’t need special equipment for Zen meditation.
You just need yourself — You can sit on a pillow on the floor if you’d like.
How to practice Zen meditation:
Find a quiet place to sit or lie down. Make sure you’re comfortable, but not so comfortable that you get sleepy or distracted by thoughts about what happened during your day — this is about focusing on the present moment, not thinking about the past or future!
Close your eyes or lower your gaze to reduce distractions from visual stimulation.
Try to empty your mind of thoughts by focusing on your breathing. Breathe deeply through your nose into your belly rather than into your chest and try to focus only on your breath — don’t worry if other thoughts come up; just let them go without judging yourself for thinking them!
More Zen stuff:
- 25 Zen Quotes to Help You Live Your Best Life
- 44 Zen Quotes to Calm Your Mind
- Inspiration – Zen Moments
- Inspiration Zen – Pinterest