"The Zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is the manifestation of ultimate reality."

- Dogen At the Hazy Moon, we practice classical meditation

as taught by the Shakyamuni Buddha and his successors, passed down from India to China,

to Japan, to America. The form is simple and enduring.

To begin, you will need a quiet room, comfortable clothes, and a cushion.

Choosing Your Position. Sit on the forward third of your cushion.

The lower body will form a tripod - knees on the ground and the base supported with

a cushion, bench or chair. Choose a position you can sustain for comfort and stability.

For the full lotus position, place your right foot on your left thigh, and your left foot

against your right thigh. The half lotus position places the right foot

on the left thigh and the left foot on the floor against the right thigh.

In burmese, both feet are on the floor, tucked against each leg.

To sit in the seiza position, set the cushion up vertically. The shins lie on either side

of the cushion. A bench can also be used.

When sitting in a chair, place your feet flat on the ground, and sit towards the chair's

edge to ensure an erect spine. Whatever position you choose, your upper body

will be the same. Place your hands in the cosmic mudra - right palm up against the lower

belly. Left atop right, middle knuckles overlap. Thumb-tips lightly touch and form an oval.

Use a supporting cushion if your hands fall low or pull your shoulders.

Finding Your Posture Whatever position is right for you, begin

by swaying side to side to center the spine. Elongate your spine by pushing up towards

the ceiling then relax. Tip the pelvis forward slightly to encourage the natural curve of

your back. Relax the belly and let it protrude. Ears should be in line with the shoulders,

shoulders over hips. Center the tip of the nose over the navel, and tuck the chin in

slightly. Eyes are open, lowered at a 45 degree angle

in an unfocused and gentle gaze toward the floor. Look out a few feet in front of you.

Have a relaxed but alert posture. Take time to set up your body correctly every time you

sit. Breathing

Begin by paying attention to your breath. Let it move naturally, without effort. Count

each exhale and inhale, one to ten. Onnnnne, onnnnnnne. Twooooooo, twooooo. Threeee,

threeeee. Breathe from the lower belly, about two fingers

width below your navel. Your breath may be shallow at first. It will deepen naturally

with practice. Set an alarm for yourself for 10 minutes. You can experiment with longer

times. It is best to sit every day. Count silently from one to ten, one to ten,

one to ten. If you lose the count, resume where you left off or go back to one. When

thoughts come up, don't engage with them and don't suppress them. Just return to the count.

You are now ready to begin. For information on introductory classes or

to sign up for retreats visit www.hazymoon.com