Philosophy 4390
             Zazen Meditation
             Before addressing what Zazen Meditation is, or how to do it, it's important to examine why one would want to do this in the first place.
             There are four main reasons why people try Zazen Meditation. The first reason is just simple curiosity. Humans, being naturally inquisitive creatures, will try it just because they are curious about what it will be like and what it may be able to do for them, or how it will feel.
             The second reason to do Zazen Meditation is for health reasons. When meditating, one's blood pressure is lowered, and it is an excellent stress reducer as well. Since stress can eventually lead to various health problems, for these reasons Zazen is a very healthy thing to do for oneself.
             The third reason people use Zazen meditation is to improve concentration. Professional and amateur athletes use it, and it has been proven effective to increase athletic concentration, which then improves performance. The discipline required for Zazen also translates into the athletic arena, and so it has been used by Olympic and athletic trainers in coaching. It is also great for those who just wish to improve their athletic abilities merely for personal fitness or recreation rather than competition.
             The fourth reason people use Zazen meditation is much more profound. It is to discover the meaning of the cycles of life and death, to remember past lives, and to increase psychic abilities and awareness. It can be a form of spiritual or religious practice, but is sufficient unto itself for this same purpose. Some people who begin using Zazen for one of the aforementioned reasons, continue using it throughout their lifetime for this most important reason.
             With the "why" question answered, now it is appropriate to move onto "what." The earliest Chinese tran...