Hypnotherapy and Zen

Zen is powerful, but it is not for everyone. Its rewards are profound but not easily obtained, because in Zen we are dealing with much more than just the thinking, intellectual mind. We are dealing with the spiritual "Mind" or as some call it, the "universal mind" that is beyond anything that our small intellects can define.

In my work as a hypnotherapist, most of the techniques I use with clients are derived my experience as a Zen practitioner. With some clients, if I feel the client is ready, and he/she indicates an interest, I will introduce them to Zen and encourage them to practice Zen on a daily basis. However, Zen practice is a commitment and some feel they are not ready. However, the Zen techniques of handling stress or anxiety or even just helping with habit control like quitting smoking, are very powerful.

The basis of Zen is zazen and it not meditation in the conventional sense of the word, as it literally means Za (sitting) and Zen or, sitting Zen. To me, sitting zazen first thing in the morning, prepares my mind to focus on whatever tasks I have to do during the rest of the day. Zen promotes the truth that there is only this moment, now. If you are washing dishes for instance, if your mind is preoccupied with plans of what you are going to do later, you are not living in the certainty of the moment of now, but in the possibility of what is to come later. Developing focus on the moment of now, is a powerful antidote to the modern-day stress, which is so widespread in our 21st Century world.

Zazen was introduced by Shakyamuni Buddha who born around 560 BC. The story goes that he sat under the Bodhi tree refusing to move until he was enlightened. What he discovered was that the source of all suffering in this world was desire. And I can see where this comes from%u2026 When we want something different, we are dissatisfied with the present moment and the way things are; we want them to change. Therefore particularly in our modern "must have" world, our minds are in a state of anticipation and it is this anticipation that is the source of stress. It is through our willingness to do zazen, that we have the opportunity to let go of ambition and just be here now with our Self. The world is impermanent, and all things change anyway, and if we put things in order in the present moment in a positive way, things will tend to be the way we planned anyway. If not, then they were not meant to be that way, so there is no point in getting ourselves into a state of angst about it.

Zen to me, is a living force that has its essence everywhere and in every situation. You don't need a special place to go and practice it. The reward of practice is ultimately enlightenment and the realisation that all is one.

Through Zen it is our view of the world that will change, and I feel that last statement is quite a powerful one, as our view of the world determines how we respond to it. And if in Zen, we respond to the world in the stillness and peace of the present moment - and we can train ourselves to do this with zazen - the world just has to become more peaceful.

Meanwhile, my Zen task is to focus on all things in my life mindfully, realising that whatever is manifest is meant to be, because I have created it to be that way. I may not have recognised how I have come to do this, as that is the task of the discipline of mindfulness that I find in Zen. "Pieces of Zen" that come from my meditation can be found on my blog.