The Key to Meditation – by Ted Hanulak Sensei

It is fun to learn to meditate. You join a group, buy a zafu (meditation  pillow), buy some candles, incense, etc. Now it is time to meditate everyday at home. The meditation instructor says it is a good idea to do it on a regular  basis. You are excited!

You set up a small area with all the important items. You are prepared. The first couple of days go smoothly. You scheduled a time to sit (meditate) and you  followed it to the letter. The next day you forgot you have a doctors appointment so you will sit a little later. You forget. The next day you say to  yourself that you will sit even longer to make up for the day before. You wind  up getting home from work and you are exhausted. So you skip the session,  swearing to yourself that you will make it up…you never do.

This is what happens to most people that take up meditation. The scenarios may vary a bit but the gist is the same. It is ok. Just climb back onto that  zafu and start sitting again! This is all part of the process. The daily battle. Once you do get on that zafu, now the real work begins. Meditation has a lot of  benefits. The benefits however will only “benefit” you if you do the sitting.  Just reading about meditation or talking to friends about it will get you nowhere.

So remember: the first rule of meditation is the actual doing of the meditation!

Ted Hanulak is the current head of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijujutsu. He teaches Aikijujutsu and meditation out of the Sensokan Dojo Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com

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Sensokan Dojo Indianapolis Zen Blog

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What is Sitting Meditation?

What is sitting meditation?
To remove ourselves from
all external distractions and
quiet the mind is called “sitting.”
To observe the inner nature
in perfect calmness is called “meditation.”

Sensokan Dojo Indianapolis Zen Blog

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Sit and Enjoy

Far up this cold mountain,
A steep rocky trail leads to places where
people dwell in white clouds.
I stop my horse-drawn cart,
sit and enjoy sunset through the maples,
whose frosted leaves are redder
than early spring flowers.

- Tu Mu (803-852)

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The Truth is There’s Nothing to Find

The truth is there’s nothing to find.
Life and death are important.
Don’t suffer them in vain.
There’s no advantage in deceiving yourself.
Even if you have mountains of jewels
and as many servants as there are
grains of sand along the Ganges,
you see them when your eyes are open.
But what about when your eyes are shut?
You should realize that everything
you see is like a dream or illusion.

- Bodhidharma (d. 533)

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An Old Friend

An old friend who lives on Tung Mountain
Loves the beauty of valleys and
hills. In green spring, she rests in empty woods
And sleeps though the sun is high.
Pine wind rustles her collar and sleeve;
The deep, rocked pool cleanses heart and ear.
I envy this woman who suffers no delusions,
Her high pillow wreathed by green clouds.


- Li Po (701-762)

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