Archie Champion,
Chief instructor, Central Coast Aikikai
I first heard about Zen in the 1970s when I found a book called “Black Zen” by Jubal Dey. He talked about what he saw as the relationship between the soul and Zen. Both prefer to think irrationally, intuitively, directly. The root of “meditation”, like medicine, means to heal. The truth is meditation, like Aikido, is not a distant mystical practice or for an enlighten few, but a skill that can be acquired through consistent practice and lifestyle choices. While the body needs movement, the mind needs stillness.
My first experience with Zen happened one morning at the 6:30 am class. There were only three of us, Chiba Sensei, Bluhm Sensei, and myself. I don’t remember much except for the black tea Sensei give us to drink. I was sweating through the whole sit. My next time happened later, this time with Chiba Sensei, Solomon Sensei, and myself. We sat in the zendo next to Sensei’s office at the University Avenue dojo. We sat from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. This time we had green tea, which had the same effect as the black tea. It was so cold that morning and the tea helped me with the cold. I made it through the sit, but didn’t get a true sense of the practice. My first sesshin was with Master Hogen (Osho-san). It included lectures (dharma talk), meditation, private interview (dokusan), and yoga. His English was clear, so simple and yet direct. After that I sat whenever I could but I didn’t have a personal practice.
Fast forward to 2020 and Covid shut down my world. I needed something to do with my time beside eat, drink, and watch television. So, I started sitting for my own mental welfare. Meditation literally reprograms the brain to open to more subtle realms of experience and awareness. By integrating meditation practice into our daily encounters, we create space for inner stillness and a distant mindfulness throughout the day. By consciously engaging in our daily activities, we infuse them with meditative quality, bringing awareness to our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It’s essential to let go of the notion that meditation requires a perfectly clear and still mind. Accepting the natural flow of thoughts and emotions during meditation allows us to cultivate self-compassion and patience.
The last four years have shown me that knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. Bell hooks wrote, “When you can be alone, you can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” I now have greater gratitude for people, not only the ones I grew in love with but all the people I interact with daily. I plan to sit until 2027 before I try to make sense of my practice. Remember the journey towards Aikido and meditation is unique for each individual. Find what resonates with you and allow your practice to evolve naturally as you progress.
