Zen in Daily Life, Zen in Motion, not being separate from zazen.

Zen in Daily Life, Zen in Motion, not being separate from zazen.

We have a practice at Jizo-an  of 動く瞑想 Ugoku Meisō Moving Meditation.
This steps from the truth that zazen (seated meditation) is not separate from daily life.
Our seated meditation practice is simply part of what we do each day, along with mindful living.
Mindful of others, and mindful or our place in the world.

Simply put, we care.

Ugoku meiso includes the standard kinhin or walking meditation we do between sittings. It also includes the yoga we do, the budo (martial arts) we do, and the geido (or traditional arts) that are included in our activities at Jizo-an. These can be great bridges between our zazen and our daily life. But in truth there is no separation. These are just the things that we do.

We call them awakened behaviors. For this is what we choose to make our life up with... Awakened behaviors. Behaviors that enrich or lives and those around us in so many ways that it is not possible to count; but the enrichment is not the point. The point is simply to engage ourselves into a life of ugoku meiso, because this is how awakened ones live.

Now these particular ones we chose were ours to choose. The ones that others choose are theirs. but to live the life of ugoku meiso is a wonderful way to live for us. Choose your life as you see fit, please choose wisely.

-jyozen-