One of the most fundamental parts of the Buddhist practice is the art of meditation. It is more than just taking in a deep, lung full of air and slowly exhaling it through the mouth. There is an entire art form devoted to the practice of clearing one’s mind and becoming aware of how the body is reacting. If you want to learn Zen meditation, then now is the time to start reading. It can lead to a much happier, peaceful way of life that you may have been missing out on.

Zen meditation all begins with zazen. Zazen is the summation of all the positions, breathing exercises and chants used in the Buddhist practice. If you intend to learn how to meditate, then you will be taking positions and breathing exercises from zazen. But before you sit down and begin holding your breath, there is a way to go about meditation properly. Otherwise you may be sitting there unable to accomplish anything.

The first step in Buddhist meditation is to find your position. This can be one of several positions. The Burmese position is where the legs are folded and the feet both touch the floor. The best way to be in the Lotus or Half Lotus position is to have your backside elevated on a special pillow, which will allow you to sit freely but with your legs positioned correctly. You can find this pillow online or in many specialty shops.

The Lotus or Half Lotus position involves sitting on the floor with your legs folded up on one another. You will resemble a pretzel in this position and it is definitely a hard one to attain when you are just starting out. If you have joint pains, then this may not be the best position for you to sit in. In that case you need to sit comfortably in a chair with your feet firmly planted and your shoulders squarely aligned with the rest of your body.

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