Zen and the Art of Compassionate Living Zen and the Art of Compassionate Living 1. Understanding Zen principles and their implications on compassionate living If you’ve ever been caught in a freakishly long line at your favorite coffee shop, you’re already halfway to understanding Zen principles. You’ve also, hopefully, experienced the power of compassionate living. But how do these concepts connect, and what can they do for your daily existence — besides ensuring you maintain your cool when the barista spills your triple-soy-vanilla-latte? Zen principles are often touted as cryptic and intricate mazes of philosophy; however, in reality, they are as simple as they come and can turn an atrocious…

Zen Calligraphy and its Spiritual Significance Zen Calligraphy and its Spiritual Significance 1. Understanding Zen philosophy through calligraphy Art has often been described as an effective way of self-expression, a kind of language that bridges the rift between what words can express, and what they can’t. Still, when most people think of art, they think of the traditional forms – painting, music, drama, and interpretive dance (which let’s face it, would be just jumping around weirdly without the soothing background music). However, there is yet another art form that goes beyond these norms and is both beautiful and profoundly philosophical – Japanese Zen calligraphy. So, you might be wondering, how…

Zen Mindfulness Techniques for Everyday Life Zen Mindfulness Techniques for Everyday Life 1. Understanding the basics of Zen mindfulness Step right on in, your specially-guided tour of Zen mindfulness is about to launch. Picture yourself curled up cozy in a woolen blanket, sipping on your favorite hot cocoa – too hot? Just blow on it, we’re in no rush. There’s a gentle fire crackling in the background; no, not your ex’s love letters, a real fire. So, what do we mean when we talk about Zen mindfulness? Zen, a fancy word often thrown around during Sunday brunches by your esoteric yoga-loving aunt, is actually a branch of Buddhism that emphasizes…

The Zen Tale of the Tiger and the Strawberry The Zen Tale of the Tiger and the Strawberry 1. Interpretation of the Zen Tale of Tiger and Strawberry Stop what you’re doing and prepare yourself for some serious philosophical flavor-bombing. That’s right, buckle up because we’re taking a thrilling roller coaster ride into the marbled halls of Zen wisdom with the tasty Tale of the Tiger and Strawberry (not to be confused with the Tale of Tiger Balm and Sorbet, which is not a Zen tale but rather an unfortunate kitchen mishap). Before we dive right into the fresh fruits of this tale, let’s take a quick detour through the…

The Life and Teachings of Dogen Zen The Life and Teachings of Dogen Zen 1. Dogen Zen’s early life and journey toward Buddhism Title: “Dogen Zen: A Spiritual Slapstick and the Road to ‘Kensho’ Enlightenment Signature Shuffle” Dogen Zen, who’d eventually shimmy his way onto the stage of history as a lauded Zen Master, began life with a far less glamorous surname: ‘Kigen’. Ironically, in ancient Japanese, it translates to “Great Surprise”. One could argue it was a prophetic moniker for a fellow whose journey through life has been anything but predictable. Dogen was born in 1200, smack dab in the middle of the glitz, glamour, and glorious pomp of…

Integrating Zen Principles in Conflict Resolution Integrating Zen Principles in Conflict Resolution 1. Understanding Zen philosophies for effective conflict resolution Titled: Finding Your Zen – The Secret Sauce to Harmony Ever found yourself in a sticky situation where blood pressures are soaring, voices are rising, and an enlightenment of dialogue has been replaced by a battlefield of words? It’s not a rare scene. It’s like family Thanksgiving dinner when Uncle Bob, emboldened by his third Old Fashioned, reveals his polarizing political views, or when your boss holds an impromptu meeting with disparate views on project deadlines. We’re talking about conflict, folks. Yes, it can be an unwelcome guest at your…

An Introduction to Zazen: Zen Meditation Practice An Introduction to Zazen: Zen Meditation Practice 1. Understanding the fundamentals of Zazen meditation Title: Ten Minutes to Zen: An Amusing Romp Through The Fundamentals of Zazen Meditation Are you tired of feeling like a tightly wound ball of stress? Or, perhaps, your mind resembles the browser with (just a few, we promise!) 1073 tasks open at once? Then welcome, friends, to the wonderful world of Zazen meditation – your new best buddy to carve a peaceful Zen-sation. Zazen meditation, or as it’s sometimes cheekily referred to, “Just sitting around doing nothing,” is a Japanese practice that involves—you guessed it!—sitting. Yes, my friends,…