“The only Zen that you find on top of a mountain is the Zen that you bring with you” – Robert M Pirsig
Dear Integral Meditators,
This weeks article explores simple ways to start exploring Zen in your life. Next Tuesday & Wednesday the summer season of classes kicks off with the Integral Meditation from the Perspective of Zen 10 week series which you are most welcome to join the inner-travel-adventure!
Almost a week to go to the The Integral Mindfulness Program for Coaches, Counselors & Therapists – Creating sustainable high performance and & wellness.
Also hot off the press: Saturday 17th, 24th, 31st July, 2-4pm – Mindful Life-skills for Teenagers – A three week course
In the spirit of Zen-ness,
Toby
Four Zen Meditations
This article is simply a set of four quotes in the spirit of Zen (note, not all from Zen sources, but nevertheless in the spirit of Zen practice), together with a focused contemplation to go with each.
“Knowledge is learning something every day, wisdom is letting go of something every day” – Zen Proverb
We all know that feeling of being overwhelmed by the amount of information coming our way in modern day life. Whilst we definitely need to keep increasing our knowledge, in order to make sure that our wisdom also increases in proportion to our knowledge we also need to spend time dropping our knowledge and resting in a state of simplicity and conscious ‘forgetting’. This means not just once every few months, but once a day!
“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God whilst one is peeling the potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes”- Alan Watts
Pick one or two activities each day where you are focused on a non-conceptual experience of the activity itself, with the amount of conceptual thought kept to a minimum.
“The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?” – Confucius
It’s very easy to over think and over-complexify when it comes to the things that we need to do in our life, and the motivations with which we do them. Practise pairing down and simplifying your actions so that they are simple, direct and appropriate responses to the demands of the moment. Don’t over think it!
“Only the hand that erases can write the true thing” – Meister Eckhart
Ultimate truth is a non-conceptual phenomenon. The only way you can get to it is through direct observation, penetration and experience of what is right in front of you. Practice erasing your thoughts and just looking at what is there.
A little further practical Zen tid-bit:
“The only Zen that you find on top of a mountain is the Zen that you bring with you” – Robert M Pirsig
Article & content © Toby Ouvry 2021, you are welcome to use or share this article, but please cite Toby as the source and include reference to his website www.tobyouvry.com
Starts 6th&7th July – Integral Meditation from the Perspective of Zen – A 10 week series
In a sentence: De-clutter your mind, develop concentration and create focused calm in your life by learning Zen meditation
Overview: The Zen School of Meditation arose from a combination of the teachings of the Buddha with the teachings of Taoism in China during the 6th century AD, where it became known as Chan meditation (‘Chan’ meaning ‘quietude’, or ‘meditation’). Later it was adopted by the Japanese, and it is they that called it Zen.
Zen is a particularly appropriate form of meditation for today’s hyper busy and challenging world because…Read full course details
Weekend of 9,10,11th July – The Integral Mindfulness Program for Coaches, Counselors & Therapists – Creating sustainable high performance and & wellness
Overview: This is a weekend, three-session dynamic mindfulness program designed for:
- Those looking for an engaged, practical mindfulness course designed to build resilience, effectiveness and wellness in the face of work and life challenges
- Trainers, coaches and therapists looking to integrate mindfulness into their own professional practice with clients
- People who have been through basic conventional mindfulness training programs and are looking for the next level of practice and performance
The essential content of the course is ten separate but interlinked mindfulness meditation practices…
Read full details
The new Mindful Self Knowledge coaching program
This is eight-month coaching program with Toby is designed to facilitate your own personal mindful self-discovery process. It focuses on:
- Awareness of how your past experience has influenced who and how you are today
- Confidence in approaching your present experience with playful fullness and enthusiasm
- Giving you the inner tools to face your choices and your future in an empowered, dynamic, and authentic manner
Watch Toby’s video on the Program
Are you looking a coach who can help you to:
- Meet the challenges, stress and changes that you face in a more effective and mindful way
- Become happier within yourself, in your relationships and at work
- Be actively accountable for finding a sense of balance/well-being in your life and fulfilling your personal potential?
- Guide you to find and operate from a deeper sense of meaning, motivation and connectivity in your life?
All upcoming classes and workshops at IMA:
Ongoing – Weekly Tuesday, Wednesday Online class schedule
Ongoing on Wednesday’s, 7.30-8.30pm – Wednesday Meditation for stress transformation and positive energy with Toby (Bukit Timah)
Ongoing on Tuesday evenings, 7.30-8.30pm – Tuesday Meditation for stress transformation and positive energy with Toby (East Coast)
Starts 6th&7th July – Integral Meditation from the Perspective of Zen – A 10 week series
Weekend of 9,10,11th July – The Integral Mindfulness Program for Coaches, Counselors & Therapists – Creating sustainable high performance and & wellness
Saturday 17th, 24th, 31st July, 2-4pm – Mindful Life-skills for Teenagers – A three week course
Saturday 24th July, 9.30-11.30am – Mindfulness for emotional intelligence masterclass
Integral Meditation Asia
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