Wabi Sabi Life is a carefully curated serving of the imperfectly beautiful and unconventional from a Western Buddhist with a love of Japanese culture and aesthetics. Please consider supporting me by becoming a paid subscriber for only £1 a week. Access more in-depth content, audio meditations, and the whole archive.
The next two perfections - meditation and wisdom- go hand in hand. In fact the three aspects of mediation, wisdom and compassion are the basis for the spiritual life.
Our minds so amazing, often so out of control: meditation is a practice for observing and understanding our minds because ‘our life is the creation of our mind’1
Dhyana, Jhana, Chana (shortened to Chan or Zen) means meditation. It is not limited to one kind of meditation practice but embraces many practices. It is the practice of being with ourselves and our mind, understanding and watching our mind, coming into contact with our body, feelings, thoughts and energy and concentrating our attention. We are not distracted by not carried away with our thoughts, feelings or experiences. We let the thoughts ‘float lightly like down.’ It also involves cultivating positive emotion and compassion for ourselves and others.
And if you have meditated you know that this is very much a practice.
When I first began to meditate over 35 years ago I could hardly sit still. Not out of physical discomfort - although that is something to be aware of and respond to - but mental agitation. Ten minutes felt like a lifetime and I just sat there with my mind race around waiting for the bell to ring.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Wabi Sabi Life to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.