Last Updated on July 26, 2023

I discovered Zen in 2008. I had just finished school, and I was stressing out. I needed a way to relax. From the movies I saw on TV, I thought, why not try martial arts? I looked up a nearby temple and decided to visit.

The Zen Buddhism philosophy is impressive. It is viewed as a way of life. The main point is to stay in the moment. If you are walking, walk if you are reading a book. Just focus on the words that are in front of you. That is Zen in a nutshell.

However, the practice is viewed as challenging by many. Although Zen says don’t make it difficult or easy, focus on the moment. How is this done, many might ask? Simple every time a thought comes to your head, dismiss it or watch it go by like a cloud.

There is formal and informal practice. Formal practice is sitting on a meditation cushion and practicing meditation, otherwise known as clearing the mind.

Meditation is unique. It can be effortless or tough. There are days when it is easy. It was usually the days I wasn’t thinking about anything, and nothing was bothering me. Over the years, I noticed my life becoming uncluttered and having a purpose.

There is also the spiritual study of zen buddhism. The eightfold path to Nirvana includes eight steps they are Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

It helped with a lot of conflict at work and in life. The study of wisdom allowed me to see things clearer and with a better perspective. The zen Buddhist path is a simple path that will leave one mystified and impressed. Looking back, it was the right choice for my spiritual needs. And it left me more fulfilled and relaxed about life.