Treatments

Zen (Spiritual Healing)

Zen is a branch of Buddhism introduced into Japan in the 12th Century, where it has thrived ever since. Zen is a system of sustained discipline and meditation

aimed at transforming the everyday experience of its followers through the traditional Buddhist teachings of insight and awareness.

Zen meditation is geared towards gaining direct insight into oneself at a deep level. Zen also teaches that accepting the world as it is and abandoning selfish desires are essential steps in the quest for enlightenment.

Zen teaching therefore concentrates on encouraging the individual to discard any established self-image or notion of ego, thereby acknowledging and embracing the transience of existence. With each moment of insight, the influence exerted by the personal 'I' on the individual's way of thinking lessens and a new, more profound understanding develops. This kind of understanding is cultivated through the use of three main techniques: daily life practice, meditation, and anecdotal wisdom.

Daily life practice - The aim is to live your life according to the Buddhist principle of 'mindfulness', which means being continually aware of all your own actions and responses. This entails adhering to the Noble Eightfold path and releasing yourself from preconceptions and driving desires. In this state, happiness and suffering are equally gratefully received as part of the ever-changing pattern of life.

The Noble Eightfold Path

1. Right understanding - here one acknowledges life as it is, in all its impermanence and unsatisfactoriness.
2. Right thought - this involves realizing the power of one's mind, which should be filled with positive thoughts of loving kindness and compassion.
3. Right speech - this includes not telling lies or saying anything that could be harmful to another, such as gossip.
4. Right Action - such action as not taking life, stealing or engaging in sexual misconduct.
5. Right livelihood - one must be careful to have a job that does not involve one in destroying life or hurting others.
6. Right effort - this is needed in order to think about what one does and says.
7. Right awareness - one must be entirely alert or awake in life.
8. Right concentration - this is required to achieve a deeper level of attentiveness, characterized by peace and calm

'Right' means appropriate or effective.

It is a philosophy through which each individual will form their own path to realize their own enlightenment.

Meditation - is covered under our classes section

Anecdotal Wisdom - is the use of symbolic stories, riddles and paradoxes. There are usually no firm conclusions to be drawn from these stories through contemplation, rather the wisdom comes from accepting that there is no right answer. These puzzles confront the intellect with a wall that no amount of logical reasoning can surmount. The hope is that intuitive insight will take over. The answer is, in a sense, to 'un-ask' the question and to realize that the problem rests in calling it a problem.

If you wish to expand your mind and heighten your awareness through this particular philosophy, you must find a good teacher, as Zen is taught as a form of apprenticeship. Most major cities in Britain now have some form of Budhist Society, where you will be able to receive information about finding a teacher in your area.