“ZEN” is a word often bandied about by the world, recognizing peaceful or calm people exude a type of “Zen Energy”. But what is Zen really? A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition, the word Zen is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyana, approximately translated as “contemplation”, “absorption”, or a “meditative state”. Zen, when properly followed, emphasizes meditation practice, direct insight into one’s own true nature, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others.

During this afternoon of introspection, we’ll take refuge in the natural world, mindfulness instruction, meditation practice, Zen storytelling and vigorous Zen Walking practice. By engaging with the true spirit of Zen, we’ll begin to realize what Master Shunryu Suzuki cites as Zen’s true purpose: “to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.”