Buddhism 102: Ethics

Lesson 1: Pure Precepts And Grave Precepts

The Precepts and Meditation

Zen Buddhists practice zazen, also known as sitting meditation. It's a simple but challenging process that I suggest, if you don't have a meditation practice already, you ought to try it while taking this class.

Some basics of zazen:

• Sit in a position that you can hold for a while. If you're on a cushion on the floor, you can sit cross-legged, in lotus position, or kneeling on both knees. If you choose to sit in a chair, sit on the forward half of the chair with feet flat on the floor.
• Decide on a time to sit beforehand, then stick to that time. If you choose to sit for fifteen minutes, sit for no more or less. Don't get up early if you're dissatisfied with your meditation; don't stay longer if you're very satisfied with it. Make a promise to yourself then keep it.
• Keep your spine straight, not slouched.
• Keep your hands in Cosmic Mudra (described on page 64 of Being Upright. Do your best to keep them still, not fidgeting or moving while you sit.
• Focus your eyes on a spot on the floor in front of you, or slightly downward if you're facing a wall. Your eyes should be half-open. This is mostly so you stay awake, and you're used to having this clarity in seeing.
• Breathe deeply and naturally.
• Do your best to empty your mind of thoughts. If thoughts arise, observe them then let them pass on. Don't be angry with yourself for thinking.

If you are meditating on your own, you may put a clock or watch in front of you to check for the time. If you find this distracting, you may choose to set a timer, or use other means. I generally light a stick of incense, then stop when the incense burns out, which times a half-hour sitting nicely. Or, I hold a string of beads (known in Buddhism as a mala) and touch one bead per long, deep breath. When I get back to the bead with the tassel on it, it's been about fifteen minutes, at my pace. Don't worry if methods of timing seem distracting; you may be distracted, but you can learn more about your mind and how it works if you sit through the distraction.

If you're meditating with others, someone will ring a bell to let you know when the meditation begins and ends.

The principles of meditation help us to learn ethics, even if it doesn't seem like a specifically ethical activity. We learn how to stay upright. We learn how to stay aware. We keep promises to ourselves and to others. We learn how to avoid getting carried away by our whims. We learn how to avoid getting distracted by the work we need to do.

I hope you choose to make meditation a daily ritual for you. The time is up to you; even if you choose to meditate for five minutes a day, it will help you. (And meditating for five minutes every day will help you more than meditating for two hours once a month.) As a beginner, don't try to meditate for more than 30 minutes at one sitting.

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