Meditation is the means by which the historical Buddha and the Patriarchs became awakened to their true nature.  It is the way to still the mind, sever the bonds of attachment, and see into one's true nature. It is unfortunate that many Buddhists are convinced that it is too hard to master meditation and leave its practice to the monks and nuns of the Sangha.  Historically, when Thien (Zen) has been its strongest and most vital, laypeople have meditated and laypeople have become enlightened.

Meditation from the standpoint of Zen is not simply sitting on a meditation cushion for a period of time; it is how we approach every activity in life, from washing dishes to talking with our friends.  To live a life of meditation is to live a life in the present moment.

Establishing a home practice:  You may do meditation almost anywhere once you are comfortable with the process. 

In the beginning, it is desirable to set up a space so that you meet with success.  To this end, a special place is very helpful when you are new to meditation. 

A clear space should be established in the room where you are going to meditate.  The bedroom is often the most practical for this purpose.  If you live with others, or have a very small apartment, sit in the center of whatever room you have available.

At the Desert Zen Center, we sit facing the wall as in the manner of Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen.  We are able to do this because we have a special room for meditation.  If you sit facing the wall at home, you will only need to clear a space on the sides of you to eliminate distractions.  If you sit facing into the room, you must clear enough room around you that your eyes will not be looking at something (an object). Because we look down, we limit our field of vision and, in turn, the amount of visual stimulation we receive.  Keep this in mind when you prepare your meditation space.

The room should not be too cold or too hot.  A strong breeze should not be present.  The room should not be dark, but the lighting can be indirect or low.  The room should be clean, with a minimal amount of distractions

Light incense before you begin to meditate.  If you have a small bell, such as used at the temple, ring it the beginning and end of your meditation period.  The lighting of incense and ringing of the bell help you set the stage for your period of meditation.  It tells your body and mind what you are doing.