“Ring Out, Wild Bells” – A Poem for the New Year

July/August 2012

Zazen: the art of meditation.  A Japanese tradition espoused by Buddhists and those who seek to quiet their minds and gain peace from the practice.  Whether you’re a salary man, an heir to a factory-business, an injured judo wrestler, or an English teacher from Nagano, the benefits of zazen can be embraced by anyone willing to follow the strict regiments of living in a zazen center.

Once everyone is finished eating, you place your remaining takuan, or pickle, in the rice bowl.  A kettle is passed down the table, and you receive hot water in your bowl to clean your dishes.  With the hot water and pickle, you clean your three bowls, eat the pickle, drink the dishwater, and place the bowls together to wrap up in a cloth on your lap with as little noise as possible.  If you lack grace, and make a noise, you will hear a few disgruntled throat noises coming from others.

Mindful free-time.  You are given time throughout the day that allows you some freedom.  After breakfast, you get an hour to unwind, which was a great time to go outside for a walk in the sun, or practice yoga.  

After lunch, you are given four hours of free-time, which was enough time for a run along the paths between the farmer’s fields, take a shower, and then head to the delicious bakery down the road that has the best chocolate chip buns and cinnamon rolls.

Then after dinner, at 4:30pm, you have another hour or so of free time before the serious session of zazen and sutra chanting.  During this time, my friend and I organized a yoga class for the rest of the members of the zazen commune to loosen up before sitting for 90 minutes in an upright rigid half lotus posture.

There was also about an hour of free time, and tea, after the evening sutras, and just before lights out.  Because your free time was limited, you were mindful of the time you had, and what you could do with it.  You made the most of this time, and enjoyed being able to relax and find the activities that make you the person that you are.

Mindful meditation.  They will explain all the strict nuances of zazen to you on your first night, and will most likely be constantly reminding you of your follies throughout the rest of your stay.

There are several processions to entering and exiting the hondou, sitting down on the zafu, pillow, raised to allow your three points: butt, and both knees, to press into the floor during mediation.  Sometimes you read from “The Teachings of Buddha” before you start the official night sessions of zazen.  You will take breaks between each 30min session of zazen.  Usually, after the second session, everyone walks in a meditative circle in front of the temple outside under the moonlight, to loosen up your body for the final and most acute session of meditation.

Your breathing must be deep, slow, and internal, through the belly and chest.  Silence is essential.  You will be told if you’re too loud.  Avoid fidgeting, and coughing.  Sit with a straight spine, and cross-legged, with either one foot on your opposing thigh (half lotus) or both feet (full lotus).  I sat in full lotus for one 30 minute session, and could barely stand up after to bow to the Buddha.  Be careful when standing too fast.

The head monk will sound a bell to initiate the beginning of the meditation.  This sound seems to purify the room, and like being hypnotized you fall immediately into a trance.  A bell will also be sounded to end the session, which pulls you out from wherever you’ve ended up.

To avoid sleeping, sit up straight, and keep your eyes partially open, focused on a spot within one meter.  Imagine that you are trying to emanate the Buddha’s pose: your hands in your lap, your dominant hand cradles the other with palms facing up, while the tips of your thumbs lightly press into each other, forming a circle, the cosmic mudra.

In the second session, the head monk will walk around the room, with a keisaku, a long flat wooden stick.  If you wish to be hit to rev up your concentration, or to battle drowsiness, then when the monk comes by, you bow to him, thus volunteering for a beating.  It doesn’t hurt that much, and the excitement of getting whacked on your stiff shoulders wakes you up and energizes you for a more concentrated meditation.

Zazen will close with a repetitive chiming of the bell, in which everyone stands up from their seated position, a challenging attempt after sitting for so long.  Then you bow, and get on your knees to bow again to prostrate yourself before the big golden Buddha statue in the room.  You do this three times, quite quickly, without falling over.  

Minimum stay is 3 days.