Doing Zen

In this track, you are invited to explore the practice of “Doing Zen” in everyday life. It gently guides you to bring your attention to what is in front of you, allowing each action to become a moment of presence. You will reflect on how to relate to thoughts without engaging or resisting them. Through simple examples, the practice of sonomama becomes something lived—moment by moment, just as it is.

Transcript

Welcome to the Inner Sanctuary Podcast. A space to return, Again and again, To this breath, This body, This moment, Just as it is. I am Keiko. With over 20 years of Zen practice, I am honored to guide this community in practicing Sonomama, Sitting rudely in Zen teachings. Sonomama, Which means as it is in Japanese, Encapsulates the ultimate message of Zen, To be present in the current moment. In this practice, We embrace the present state, Recognizing that all there is, Is the way it is now. And today, I want to reflect on a powerful form of daily practice, Doing Zen. In the Inner Sanctuary, We sit in Sonomama meditation, A Zen-based practice of simply being with things as they are. We cultivate the capacity to stay present, Without resistance, Without judgment. But this practice doesn't end when we rise from the cushion. It continues, Moment by moment, Throughout the day. Zazen, Sitting meditation, Is the central form of Zen. And yet, Zen has never been separate from daily life. It's grounded in reality, And can be practiced 24 hours a day. One simple way to embody as it is, Ness in the flow of daily life, Is through doing. Do what is in front of you now. Start by giving full care to whatever you are doing in this very moment. If unrelated thoughts arise, Let them be. And gently return to the task at hand. Keep your attention grounded in the action itself, Releasing anything that doesn't belong now. Don't wash the dishes to escape your thoughts. Wash the dishes to wash the dishes. Be with the water. Be the movement. Be the sound. If thoughts arise related to the task, That's okay. Let them pass. Stay with what is right in front of you, Without adding, Without resisting. When brushing your teeth, Become brushing your teeth. When pulling weeds, Become pulling weeds. Let the mind be as it is. Don't interfere. Simply do what needs to be done now. Zen is not limited to sitting. It is a 24-hour invitation to be with what is, Because all there is, Is the way it is now. Thank you for joining me today. May your next task, No matter how small, Be a moment of practice, A moment of presence, A moment of Sonomama.