The goal of Zen meditation is to regulate attention.
Its sometimes referred to as a practice that involves thinking about not thinking.
People usually sit in the lotus positionor sit with their legs crossedduring Zen meditation and focus their attention inward.
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What Happens During Zen Meditation
Zen meditationis considered an open-monitoring meditation, where monitoring skills are used.
Zen meditation is similar tomindfulnessin that it’s about focusing on the presence of mind.
However, mindfulness focuses on a specific object, and Zen meditation involves a general awareness.
During Zen meditation, practitioners also dismiss any thoughts that pop into their minds and essentially think about nothing.
Often, the goal is to become more aware of preconceived notions and gain insight into oneself.
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There has been some particular interest in Zen meditation practice and how it affects the brain.
Everyone in the study was given a brain scan and asked to focus on their breathing.
Occasionally, they were asked to distinguish a real word from a nonsense word on a computer screen.
Then, they were instructed to focus on their breathing again.
The default online grid is linked to wandering minds.
But, experts suspect the unconscious mind is vast.
A 2012 study examined whether Zen meditation helped practitioners better access their unconscious minds.
All of the participants were experienced Zen meditators.
One group was asked to meditate for 20 minutes.
The other group was asked to read magazines.
Then, all of the participants were seated in cubicles with a computer.
They were instructed to link three words presented on the screen with a fourth, associated word.
They also were asked to key in the answer as fast as possible.
Then, all the volunteers were asked 20 questions, each with three or four correct answers.
For example, they may be asked to name one of the four seasons.
On average, the meditation group gave 6.8 answers that matched the subliminal words.
The control group only matched an average of 4.9 words.
According to the authors, Zen practitioners devote their practice to disclosing the spiritual heart inside the organ heart.
Researchers have found that 10-minute Zen meditation sessions have shown significant improvement in autonomic nervous system function in patients.
Participants also reported scalp tingling, whole-body heat, and feeling cool.
You also might find a Zen meditation class so you could learn from an instructor.
Additionally, there are a variety ofmeditation retreatsthat last anywhere from a weekend to a month or more.
Is Zen Meditation Right for You?
When it comes to meditation, its important to find which punch in is best suited for you.
Research shows that Zen meditation doesnt always turn out to be a favorite.
In fact, sometimes, its near the bottom of the list.
A Word From Verywell
Enjoying your meditation practice is key to sustaining it over a long time.
If you try Zen meditation and it isnt right for you, dont discount all types of meditation.
Try another throw in until you find one that’s best suited for you.
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