SHIKANTAZA (只管坐): The Art of Silent Sitting in Zen Meditation

Introspection, Vol. 4

As I stated at the end of the previous article “THE MIND: A Beautiful Servant. A Dangerous Master”, starting today we will embark on a journey to explore each positive and negative state of mind in-depth, dedicating an article to each.

We will start this journey by focusing on Shikantaza (只管打坐), that is the profound art of just sitting in Zen. We will see why it’s important to integrate this practice in our daily life, and how it can help to reset our nervous system and pave the path towards our center.

“Sometimes, simply by sitting, the soul collects wisdom.”

Zen Proverb

Shikantaza, often translated as "just sitting," is a profound and contemplative practice that is practiced in Zen Buddhism, but originates from ancient times. This meditation technique encourages practitioners to let go of all agendas, expectations, and conceptual thinking, focusing solely on the act of sitting in meditation. It may seem deceptively simple, but due to our daily programming, Shikantaza is a deeply transfo…