Zen Coffee

Breathe in the Zen

2010-02-22T13:13:00.004-06:00

Take a moment to breathe in the Zen.

Enjoy a hot cup of java while you mindfully meditate on the steam rising from your coffee, just like the ethereal essence of your inner self arising within you.

Breathe in the Zen. Breathe in the essence of your inner self.

Jazzed out of Zen

2010-02-10T10:49:00.016-06:00

How often do we forget to be present? How many times have we jazzed our minds out of Zen... not being able to see the coffee for the beans? We do lots of things other than being present and centering our attention on the present moment because we have too many thoughts running here and there, way too many things to do, and we scatter our focus in all directions, throwing our energy into the wind.

Hey, it happens to all of us. We don't forget to be present; we're just
not aware that we're in the present moment. We forget to be mindful
of it. So just be here, breathing and being present, mindfully enjoying
a cup of Zen Coffee.

A Cup of Zen

2009-07-13T13:41:00.009-05:00

The first cup of coffee in the morning is a beautiful, enjoyable thing. You're not quite awake and your mind is open and receptive to the thoughts you drink in. As you enjoy your Zen Coffee first thing in the morning, allow the coffee to fill you with a wonderful feeling of calm and peacefulness to set the tone for your day.

Zen Coffee... Review

2009-06-05T15:22:00.003-05:00

Since my last several posts have been about reviewing Zen books, I thought I'd share a review, written by Cassie Bendel of Espresso Machine News about my own book, Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation.

Author Gloria Chadwick has released a book that seems like an oxymoron: Zen Coffee. But her aim is to teach you how your favorite drink can help calm you down.

Many people approach coffee drinking as a means to an end. They're tired and they need to get the caffeine in the coffee into their system as quickly as possible so that they can wake up, or at least feel like it, and rush on to the next part of the day. This, in my opinion, is why God and the good people at Red Bull invented energy drinks.

While I can't claim that I don't benefit from coffee's energizing purposes, it's always been something different for me. It's meant a chance to slow down. A chance to stop and notice what's around me. So imagine my delighted surprise when I came across the book, Zen Coffee: A Guide
to Mindful Meditation by Gloria Chadwick.

Chadwick's approach to coffee leans more towards seeing the world's #1 beverage as a way to bring a sense of mindfulness and peace to your life rather than something to chug down on your way out the door. However, on her blog, she explains that the book is also for busy people who need the chance to slow down and literally drink in all that life (and coffee) has to offer.

While I haven't read Chadwick's book, her ideas seem quite appealing. According to her, the book can show the average coffee drinker how to utilize their favorite drink and translate those experiences into lowering stress. Chadwick claims you needn't become a Zen expert to experience the calming effects the practice can have on your mind and spirit.

We can all use a little more mindfulness in our daily lives, whether it means committing to a few moments in meditation or simply just taking a second away from the noise of appointments and technology to really stop and see ourselves more clearly. Though I've already found my own approach to coffee as a reason to embrace these moments, I hope to pick up a copy of Chadwick's book and see what a fellow coffee lover thinks about it too.

The book is $9.95 and is available on Amazon.

Answers from the Heart

2009-06-02T12:01:00.014-05:00

When Bodhipaksa of Wildmind asked me to review Thich Nhat Hanh's new book, Answers from the Heart: Practical Responses to Life's Burning Questions, I immediately said yes. I've read many of his books and found them to be loving and peaceful.

In the spirit of honesty, I must say that I was disappointed with this book. It seems vague; most of the responses to questions asked are answered with an all-encompassing response
of basically to be mindful of the emotion you
are feeling. In my opinion, Thich Nhat Hanh doesn't offer concrete--or practical--answers to questions in the chapters about Daily Life, Family, Parenting, and Relationships, Spiritual Practices, Engaged Buddhism, Sickness and Health, Death and Dying, and Children's Questions. But perhaps this is the purpose of Answers from the Heart. To offer us koans to help us create our own answers, to look within for our own compassion and understanding.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter on Family, Parenting, and Relationships: Question: My teenage son and I argue all the time. How can I stop these fights? Answer: The first thing you can do is to look at yourself, to see whether you have enough calm energy to help calm him when he is in your presence. The problem may not only be with the child, but within the parent. If the parent is not peaceful, this can trigger negative emotions in the child, especially if there are negative seeds planted in him. In the past there may have been times when you got irritated and reacted in a state of annoyance--this has deposited those seeds in him. You have to undo this in the present moment. Being loving and calm and having the capacity to listen can absorb a lot of suffering. If you can engage him to talk to you about his difficulties by practicing deep, compassionate listening, that will help remove the kinds of energies that are making him suffer. If you have loving kindness and the energy of peace in you, even without speaking you can influence another person and he or she will feel better just sitting with you.

The book is $12.95 and is available from Amazon.

I had a bit of a dilemma about whether to post this review since it's negative and I have so much respect for Thich Nhat Hanh. I've read many of his books and enjoyed them tremendously, but I didn't enjoy this book and would not recommend it. I decided to post this review (obviously, since you're reading it) because it is my honest opinion of
the book. Have you read this book? What did you think about it?

Still the Mind

2009-05-12T14:46:00.017-05:00

I had the pleasure of reviewing Bodhipaksa's new 2-CD set, Still the Mind: Simple Breathing Practices for Inner Peace, published by Sounds True. Bodhipaksa is a Buddhist teacher and runs the online meditation center, Wildmind, a wonderful website. The
CD retails for $19.95 and is available
on the Wildmind website for $15.96.

I totally loved Still the Mind. I felt as
if I was listening to a very kind, gentle teacher who was speaking with me, a teacher who truly wanted to share the peace and joy that meditation brings. Bodhipaksa makes meditation available and easily accessible to everyone who wants to meditate. I loved it because it's so real, so practical, and so down-to-earth.

He starts off with an introduction, then suggests we start where we
are, because it's the only place we can start, then guides us through a short meditation of simply following the sensations of the breath. This, in and of itself, is very beautiful. We accept where we are and simply begin our practice of meditation to begin to still our minds. If our thoughts stray as we begin to meditate, we treat ourselves with kindness, returning our attention and focus to our breath.

The CD continues in a gentle, conversational style, as if you and Bodhipaksa are sitting together, just discussing mindfulness and how
to achieve inner peacefulness. He answers all questions almost before you can ask them and covers any doubts you may have that could hinder your practice. After listening to both CDs, you feel empowered to begin
a life-long meditation practice.

Rather than meditation becoming a goal or something you achieve, he encourages you to allow meditation to become a natural part of your life... as natural as breathing.

If you're looking to begin a practice of mindful meditation, Still
the Mind: Simple Breathing Practices for Inner Peace takes you on a peaceful journey into the Buddha-nature within, into the gentle, quiet place of inner peacefulness, and the experience of a still mind. I highly recommend this CD set.

The back cover blurb reads as follows:

Find the stillness behind every breath with this step-by-step guide to meditation. The average person has 12,000 thoughts per day--most of them a recurring handful of unwelcome distractions. On Still the Mind, master meditation teacher Bodhipaksa offers an essential program for anyone looking to move beyond the chatter of a too-busy mind, while laying the foundation for a daily meditation practice.

Two CDs of instruction and guided sitting sessions will help you discover the breath as an untapped source of mental clarity and inner peace, as you transcend the hectic demands of everyday life and learn to settle into the deepest parts of yourself. Bodhipaksa's gentle teaching style and straightforward delivery take the mystery out of meditation. His step-by-step instruction will help you cultivate your own daily practice right in the middle of your busy life, as you explore:

The 1-2-3's of sitting practice, from the best times to meditate to what you can expect in your first few days, weeks, and months;
How to evolve a spontaneous and self-motivating practice that is both joyful and empowering;
Using the breath as a natural gateway to your inherent wisdom and clarity; and
How to channel your new-found mindfulness into your relationships, career, and creative pursuits.

Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned meditator, Still the Mind gives you easy access to greater self-awareness and self-confidence, increased calm in any situation, and harmony within and without.

You can visit Bodhipaksa at Wildmind.

Your Mind is Magical... You Are Magical

2009-04-05T08:57:00.005-05:00

Last week, I posed a coffee question asking how you meditate, so I thought I'd share some of the ways I meditate. There are no rules to meditation; whether you meditate zazen, sipping your coffee, or just becoming calm and quiet, you always arrive at the same benefits--a peaceful place in your mind.

I often meditate by inner journeying, by creative visualization, by embracing my Zen coffee and the calm it brings to me, and by opening up the magical power of my mind to explore my true spiritual nature.

I have another blog--Magical Mind--and I'd like to invite you to explore more ways to meditate, to explore your inner, magical self.

Coffee Question

2009-03-31T17:09:00.008-05:00

How do you meditate?

Holding a steaming mug of coffee while breathing in the ethereal essence and aroma of the coffee?

Sitting quietly, clearing your mind of all thoughts?

Creatively visualizing on a pleasant image?

Actively journeying within your mind and traveling through the thoughts and images that arise?

There are so many ways to meditate. How do you like to meditate?

Meditate for Earth

2009-03-21T15:39:00.016-05:00

Next Saturday, March 28th, at 8:30 P.M., millions of people everywhere around the world are turning off their lights for one
hour to Vote for Earth, and to help bring attention and mindful awareness to the
global warming crisis.

Zen carries with it a respect for all of life;
we can all respect the Earth by turning off our lights for one hour. I'll
be lighting a few candles, drinking some Zen coffee, and meditating during this hour, sending love vibes and healing to the Earth.

The Stillness of Sunrise

2009-02-22T19:10:00.014-06:00

When I vacationed in Hawaii, I would get up early every morning before sunrise and go to the beach with my coffee and sit peacefully meditating as the sun began to rise, just listening to the gentle silence.

This stillness meditation, from BKWSU, offers you a peaceful way to start your day.

Simply Being Zen

2009-02-01T11:58:00.004-06:00

Simply. Be. Zen. Take a quiet moment, with or without coffee, to go within and enjoy a peaceful moment all to yourself. Simply Be.

Zen Coffee Breather

2009-01-10T21:49:00.007-06:00

Hold your steaming mug of coffee in both hands and deeply breathe in the aroma of coffee. Feel the essence of the aroma in your mind. Breathe out the essence of your coffee. Deeply breathe in the ethereal essence of you. Feel your Zen nature within you. Breathe out the ethereal essence of your spirit, allowing it to permeate everything around you and within you.

There's No Time Like the Present

2009-01-01T09:00:00.002-06:00

I've always liked the phrase, "There's no time like the present." It reminds me that in every moment, we have a new beginning, and that the present moment is always a gift. We always have an ever-present choice to tune into our spiritual essence, to tune into our Zen nature, to take the present moment to mindfully meditate. I like that I can take any moment I wish and turn it into a Zen coffee moment.

Happy New Year, everyone. I wish for you many "no time like the present" moments to be present in the New Year--with or without coffee.

The Zen Zone

2008-12-29T12:54:00.004-06:00

Are you in the Zen zone? Being in the zone means you're totally in tune with whatever you're doing, whether it's drinking coffee, simply breathing, admiring a beautiful flower, cleaning your house, meditating, enjoying a sunrise, swimming at the beach, jogging, or anything else you do. The nature of Zen is in harmony with everything and everything is in harmony with Zen. You can be in the Zen zone in every moment. Simply allow yourself to flow into whatever you're doing with your full focus of awareness.

Look Inside Zen Coffee

2008-11-29T16:29:00.008-06:00

Drinking a cup of coffee brings to mind various images ... sitting in a coffee house with friends, sharing great conversation ... waking up in the morning with a hot cup of java to open your eyes and get you going ... and quiet moments of contemplation over a mug of steaming coffee.

Zen Coffee is for people on the run ... an active approach to mindful meditation in every moment of your busy life. It offers you many ways to bring peace and a sense of serenity into all your experiences and activities.

As you race through the hectic pace of life with your coffee cup in hand, you'll find a moment or two to de-stress and drink in the essence of Zen ... the essence of your inner nature.

Inside the pages, you'll discover how to:

Zoom into the zest of Zen to make your life more meaningful;
Capture the essence of your inner nature in all your experiences;
Use caffeine to wake up your inner self;
Put the magic of mindfulness into every moment;
Minimize stress and maximize happiness;
Find peace, quiet, and harmony in hidden places in your mind where you never thought to look for them; and
Create a meditation space--a Zen sanctuary and coffee zendo for a few mindful moments of meditation every day.

Capturing the essence of your inner self is as quick and easy as drinking your coffee and being mindful as you race through the ups and downs of all your experiences. A few moments of mindfulness scattered here and there puts the caffeine calm of Zen Coffee into your life.

Please visit Mystical Mindscapes and have a look inside the pages to see how coffee and calm combine to create a mindful state of mind.

Zen Coffee is Here

2008-10-29T19:44:00.013-05:00

Zen Coffee has arrived in the present.
The birth of a book is always a very special thing to me, not just because I wrote it, but because part of me--part of my heart and soul--is in the pages.

I promised I'd answer the koan of meditating by coffee. The nature of how you experience Zen and coffee is unique
to each person. There is no right or wrong answer because the koan is whatever it means to you. The koan can't be explained with words; it must be experienced on an intuitive, feeling level inside you. That's what Zen Coffee is all about.

The paradox of meditating by coffee is that mindfully meditating is
not separate from any of your experiences; it is a basic, integral part
of everything in your life and can be incorporated into every thought, feeling, and experience you have, much in the same manner that caffeine and calm--which are seeming opposites--poured into the
same coffee cup are a perfect blend of meditation and mindfulness.

Everyone who left comments on the koan receives a free copy of the book! Please email me with your address so I can send the books out.

The Present is a Gift

2008-10-05T17:13:00.009-05:00

Being present in every moment is a gift you give yourself. A gift that brings you peace, joy, calmness, and harmony. A gift that offers you the opportunity to just simply be and breathe, a present that gives you the chance to tune into yourself and discover all the many wonderful things about you.

Speaking of the present and a gift -- I have a gift for you. Just like the happy anticipation you feel when your birthday comes around, I'm going to have to make you wait for it--not because I'm trying to be mean, but because the gift hasn't arrived in the present.

Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation is nearly ready to be born. I expect my book to make its appearance in the world and on this blog sometime towards the end of this month. And when it arrives, I'll be giving away copies to the first ten people who have answered the koan of meditating by coffee. So take some time to be present and give yourself the gift of mindful meditation. And you may even win a book.

Here's the koan: You may be wondering how to meditate by coffee.
How can caffeine and calm, poured into the same coffee cup create a peaceful state of mind? How can you meditate if you're all stressed out or jazzed up on coffee? Well, it's a koan... that's the nature of Zen. A koan is a Zen Buddhist riddle that has no easy answer; it may be totally illogical in nature and it appears to be a paradox. A koan is a question that must be experienced in order to be understood. Zen and coffee don't seem to mix. Or do they? It seems they'd be completely opposite to one another, but part of the mystery of the koan is that they are truly in harmony. What do you suppose the koan means? How do caffeine and calm mix together in a cup of coffee?

Where's Your Zen?

2008-09-21T15:47:00.008-05:00

Is your Zen lost? Misplaced? Gone? Does it only appear when you're feeling calm and peaceful? Is it next to impossible to find when you're stressed or angry? Do you mindlessly gulp down your coffee without giving Zen a second thought? Not to worry. You're not alone. All of us at one time or another have misplaced our Zen. It isn't lost, though it may have wandered off for a while, looking for you in the moment when you lost it.

Zen is everywhere, all the time. Your Zen is hiding in your coffee and is easily found when you look for it. Wherever you go, there you are. You can journey mindfully through life with Zen coffee. Zen is flexible. Zen is fluid. Zen fits your lifestyle. Zen is in every breath you take. Breathe and be present in the moment, no matter where you are, what you are doing, how you are feeling, or what is happening. Breathe and be completely present with your feelings in the moment you are experiencing. That's where your Zen is.

Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation

2008-09-16T12:11:00.011-05:00

Zen Coffee is nearly finished. Just wanted to give you a look at the cover. My blogging buddy, Caroline, at The Zen in You, created the cover. We're almost ready to go to press; the book will be available by the end of this month. You can read what the book is about here. While you're waiting, take some time to just simply breathe and mindfully enjoy your Zen coffee.

We'll be revealing the answer to the koan of meditating by coffee and giving away free copies of Zen Coffee as part of our book launch. If you haven't pondered the koan, please mindfully meditate on it and post your answer.

Peace

2008-09-11T13:02:00.014-05:00

There really are no words to describe the emotions we all felt so deeply on this day seven years ago. I hurt for all the people who lost their lives that day and for their families. Today, I choose to practice peace. In my own way, I hope to help with the healing in our hearts that will lead to loving kindness and peace.

Zen Sesshin

2008-08-25T14:40:00.019-05:00

A sesshin means literally "a gathering of the mind." It is a period of intensive meditation, usually done in a zendo--a meditation hall. The daily routine requires many hours of meditation a day; during a sesshin, you devote yourself almost exclusively to zazen practice, which is simply sitting to peacefully meditate. The meditation periods are interwoven with short rest breaks and meals--all performed with the same mindfulness as meditating.

I'm engaging in a Zen coffee sesshin in the zendo of my office to mindfully finish writing my book, Zen Coffee:
A Guide to Mindful Meditation. I'm going to gather the thoughts in my mind and on paper together, and while drinking my coffee, work in a meditative frame of mind, taking time
for short breaks for meals, to walk my dogs, and cuddle with my cats.
I'll also be taking a break from posting on this blog so I can focus on my book. I'm going to sit zazen at my computer, meditating on the words, writing them, and growing them into a book.

While I'm finishing my book, maybe you'd like to meditate on the koan
of meditating by coffee. This was part of my first post: You may be wondering what Zen and coffee have in common and how to meditate
by coffee. How can caffeine and calm, poured into the same coffee cup create a peaceful state of mind and help you to mindfully meditate? How can coffee jazz your mind and bring you inner peace at the same time? Well, it's a koan... that's the nature of Zen.

A koan is a Zen Buddhist riddle, used to focus the mind during meditation; it is something that has no easy answer; it may be totally illogical in nature and it appears to be a paradox. A koan is a question that must be experienced in order to be understood. Zen and coffee don't seem to mix. Or do they? It seems they'd be completely opposite
to one another, but part of the mystery of the koan is that they are
truly in harmony.

What do you suppose the koan means? How do caffeine and calm mix together in a cup of coffee? If you're one of the first ten people to solve the koan, I'll give you a free copy of my book. If you're one of the next ten after that, I'll buy you a cup of coffee. If you're still wondering what the answer is, you'll have to wait until the book comes out. But I promise you, you'll engage your mind and spirit, and that's a much better gift you can give yourself than receiving a free book.

Monkey Mind

2008-08-15T11:04:00.017-05:00

When you finally have and/or make the time to enjoy a peaceful moment all to yourself--just you and a cup of coffee--and you've decided you're going to mindfully meditate and be present in this moment of here and now, what usually happens? Your mind won't be quiet. A zillion thoughts rush and careen through your mind. All you wanted was peace and quiet, a mindful moment of silence to sip your Zen coffee. Instead, you're listening to all the chatter running through your mind. This is called a monkey mind. Not too flattering, I know, but it happens to all of us when we meditate. Our mind goes in a zillion different directions at once, like a crazy little monkey jumping from one thought to another.

The cute little monkey in the picture is holding a branch from a coffee tree. He, or she, has just had his/her Zen coffee by nibbling the coffee cherries. This monkey looks pretty calm, as if he/she is truly having a mindful moment. Probably doesn't have any thoughts running through his/her carefree little mind. Probably laughing at us humans who can't quiet the constant chatter in our minds.

So how do we quiet our mind so we can focus on the present moment?
By being accepting of our thoughts and being detached from them at the same time. Accept that thoughts are going to run through your mind but don't become attached to them by thinking about them. Calmly watch them come and go. Notice that you're having a thought, but don't pay attention to what the thought says. Without an audience, your thought will leave, and then another one will come running through your mind. Let the thought go, and the next one, and the next one, and so on.

Just breathe. Focus your mind on your breathing. Notice how you're breathing in and out, back and forth, inhaling and exhaling. Breathing in ... breathing out. No room for thoughts, only breathing in and out. Just breathing, being present with your breath.

Your mind will leave you alone when you don't pay any attention to it. Your monkey mind wants attention; it wants an audience; it wants you
to listen. When you simply notice that you're having a thought and don't focus on it, then the thought will wander away by itself, wondering why you're not listening, but hey--you're being mindful and breathing; you're not listening to thoughts, you're listening to your breathing. Just breathe. Just be present with your breath.

Sharing Zen Coffee

2008-08-10T12:39:00.006-05:00

It's Sunday morning; perhaps you're just simply enjoying the Zen within your day, free from work and other obligations, maybe meeting friends for an iced latte or a Frappuccino at the coffee house.

Photo by carrielynn.

Coffee Zendo

2008-08-05T09:15:00.020-05:00

A zendo is a meditation hall where it is
peaceful and silent, a place to quietly sit
in mindful meditation.

Zen Coffee has its own version of a zendo. It's a place in real life where you actively engage in mindfulness in and through all your activities. Take a moment or two and visit our coffee zendo with its array of coffees, espresso machines, and books on Zen and coffee.

Flowing Into Zen

2008-08-02T17:44:00.021-05:00

The path of Zen is gentle, peaceful and flows like water, following its own course. In Zen coffee terms, simply go with the flow of life. Please enjoy this relaxing waterfall meditation. It’s very peaceful, very Zen. Created by Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Visit their website for more meditations.

Golden Zen

2008-08-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

While mindfully sipping my Zen coffee and surfing the web, I found this wonderful coffee meditation at Golden Zen. Harmony has graciously allowed me to reprint her post here. This is a picture of Harmony with her dog, Ginger.

Coffee Lovers and Meditation Unite

I am a coffee nut. I admit it. First thing in the morning, there is nothing finer than the smell of a great coffee bean that has been ground and is finally dripping into my coffee cup. I drink it strong, dark and black, so I don’t need much. But by 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I am ready to escape the noise of my business life and find another moment to myself. Coffee helps me escape from my surroundings, and unless I am in meeting sharing conversation with someone else, I use my “coffee time” for a midday meditation time.

People often have a difficult time finding time for meditation so I offer a few techniques I have used over the years to get the most out of my java. (Can be performed with tea or hot chocolate too I suppose, but the question begs to be asked, “Why”?) :)

How to Meditate and Drink Coffee at the Same Time

1. Go it alone. This seems obvious but to some it may be difficult. This is not the time to chat or to call a friend to meet you. It’s already too crowded with me, myself, and I. That is why we meditate, to still some of the chatter going on inside in our own head.

2. Go it with gratitude. Before you leave your car, or your office, or your bedroom, begin to say “thank you.” Imagine the coffee, the time alone and the opportunity to enjoy silence, and start the “gratitude attitude” mindset in motion.

3. Go for an empty table. It doesn’t matter how busy it is, how many people are in line, who is talking about what on their cell phone, and how many babies are screaming. You can do this. It is about you and your coffee; that is all there is.

4. Go for the feel of it. Put your hand around the cup and feel the heat come through. What does it feel like as the heat enters your hand and begins to warm your entire body? Bring your attention to the sensation and notice. You may find yourself feeling comforted, welcomed, nurtured, or just plain sweaty. Don’t worry about what the feeling is; just pay enough attention to your hands and the cup to feel something.

5. Go for the smell. Smell the coffee and breathe in your silence. Use the aroma as a point of reference. Nothing else matters. No conversation is important. You are entering your own world of sensation and peace. Relax with it and don’t force your feeling. Simply notice what you do feel.

Time out: You may feel irritated, distracted, busy, hurried, bothered, or nothing at all. All of these and more is perfectly okay. If you practice this meditation for two weeks on a daily basis, either at home or at your favorite coffee hang out (or a new one you choose for this experiment), you will soon experience much more presence and much less distraction.

6. Go for the taste. Stop and notice the feel of the heat on your lips, your tongue, and your entire mouth. Notice the taste you often take for granted. Be present to the feeling you have as you sip your java. Have you escaped for a few moments from pressure? This is your time to quiet yourself.

7. Go for a few long breaths. Notice yourself having a sip, swallowing and then sitting back with a large, slow inhalation and slow, thoughtless exhalation. Repeat this 3 or 4 times before enjoying your next sip.

8. Go for silence. It may take you a few attempts to be able to disconnect from the noise around you, but it will take much longer to disconnect from noise inside you. That constant barrage of words, thoughts, “should of,” scolds, checklists, fantasies, etc… is a drain on your internal resources. It is time for a 10-second break from it all. So let your mind drift into space.

Here's a trick I use to help me disconnect: Focus your eyes on an object in the room or outside the room. Stare, but don’t follow any action. Simply stare. After 3 or 4 seconds, your eyes will relax. (Usually, this type of focus is accompanied by a breath that is more “releasing” than normal. You don’t need to force this breath; it just arrives on time by its own initiative.) If you stay with it, everything but your focus will go slightly blurred. And then stay, and breathe. Make it a conscious choice to remain. Your entire body will relax into the focus. You don’t need to stay all day, but 30 seconds will make a remarkable impact on your state of being.

9. Go repeat numbers 4-8. Do it as many times as you are comfortable with and finish your coffee (or not).

10. Go with gratitude. Don’t judge the effectiveness, or how it should have been any other way. Thank life for what you just felt and leave it alone, until the next time.

Please go and visit Harmony’s Golden Zen blog. She has written many wonderful posts about meditating, listening to the silence, and so much more that will help you get into your Zen.

Happy Coffee Beans

2008-07-31T08:00:00.004-05:00

Happy coffee beans make happy coffee. Growing in a Zen-like state of mindfulness and harmony, they dream of becoming lattes or espressos, cappuccinos or mochas. Their sole purpose is to make you happy when you drink your coffee. As the beans share their essence with you, they remind you of your inner essence. The subtle nuances and similarities between the coffee beans and mindfulness lend themselves to a cup of Zen coffee.

Have a Nice Day

2008-07-30T00:56:00.008-05:00

This happy Zen coffee says it all; no words are necessary. When I posted this yesterday, I didn't write words to go with the picture. I thought that, without words, you would tune into the pure peacefulness of the Zen within you.

Zen coffee is simply being in the present moment, enjoying the moment, without any words to distract you from the peacefulness of a mindful moment. Zen coffee makes you happy and brings a smile to your face because you are in tune with the inner essence of yourself. Let a smile be your mantra for today to bring out your inner Zen. Smile, and have a Zen day!

Breathe...

2008-07-28T15:27:00.005-05:00

Breathing is something you do every day, day in and day out. So what makes breathing so special, other than keeping you alive? It's when you focus on your breath, when you're aware that you're breathing in and out. This is mindfulness, paying attention only to your breath. It centers you within yourself, calms your mind, and opens you to your spiritual nature. It brings you into harmony and creates peacefulness.

Breathe. Be here, now, completely in the present moment. Let your thoughts go as you center into what you’re doing and feeling at this very moment. Breathe and be. Being in the present moment is stilling and empowering. It is mindfulness, being mindful of what you’re doing in the moment that you are doing it, without letting your thoughts wander. If they stray, gently focus your awareness on your breathing; focus on the present—right here, right now—into what you’re doing and feeling at this exact moment in time. Just breathe and be with yourself.

In Zen meditation, a bell is used to bring your awareness back into yourself. When you hear the bell, you stop what you are doing and focus completely in the present moment. You use your breath to bring you into the peaceful essence of yourself. Let coffee be your bell to meditate. Whenever and wherever you are, whatever you are doing and feeling, as you drink your coffee, let it bring you fully into the present moment, into the awareness of your calm, peaceful inner nature.

Breathe...

Motorcycle Monks

2008-07-27T12:06:00.011-05:00

You can find the mindfulness of Zen anywhere, anytime, all the time, and in any situation: while drinking your coffee, being in a beautiful garden, washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, writing a book, cooking dinner, walking through the rain, and riding a motorcycle. You don't need to be a meditating monk on a mountain to achieve Zen or sit in silence to listen to your inner spirit. I found a wonderful post this morning about Motorcycle Zen, a weekend journey taken simply to experience and enjoy the journey.

Reading Nicole's post, I was immediately reminded of a book I'd read many years ago: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. Here's what he says about the book: "The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself. The study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to achieve an inner peace of mind. The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon."

Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, is where you'll find Zen.

Zen Garden

2008-07-26T08:00:00.007-05:00

Need a few minutes for yourself to relax and tune in to your inner nature? I love being in a garden. It's very peaceful being in a beautiful place in nature; it brings me back into mindful awareness--with or without my Zen coffee. This is a beautiful Zen Garden meditation by Mystic Zen. It will transport you into a beautiful place.

Morning Meditation

2008-07-25T00:08:00.008-05:00

If you're like me first thing in the morning, all you can think about is having your coffee. In a way, this is a mindful meditation because the only thing on your mind is coffee. To start your day off right, here's a mindful Zen coffee meditation.

Breathe. Hold your cup in both hands and breathe in the wonderful aroma of your freshly-brewed cup of coffee. Feel the cup in your hands, its texture and shape; feel its warmth from the coffee inside. As you raise your cup of coffee to your mouth, be aware of the motion of your arms. Breathe in the aroma and warmth of your coffee. As you take that first delicious sip, notice the taste, the flavor of your coffee; notice how the coffee feels in your mouth. Notice the warmth, feel it moving into your throat as you swallow. Breathe. Feel the essence of the coffee within you. Enjoy your coffee. Experience the essence of your coffee, the essence of you. Breathe and be with your coffee. Breathe and be with yourself.

Coffee Controversy

2008-07-23T10:51:00.017-05:00

Mr. Jeff Simmermon, a coffee drinker who knows how he likes his coffee, walked into Murky Coffee and ordered an iced espresso. The barista, David Flynn, who knows how to serve coffee by adhering to store policies, refused to serve the coffee this way. Apparently, this wasn't a Zen moment for either Jeff or David.

Jeff shared his side of the story and Murky Coffee shared theirs. The Washington Post had a few things to say about it as did Timothy Burke at Easily Distracted. There's a heated discussion going on over at the coffeegeek forums and numerous blogs have made mention of this coffee controversy, taking one side or the other.

So I thought I'd add my voice to the chorus. Zen is the way of balance, of finding the middle road. Zen is the way of peace and harmony. Well, we all know that didn't happen.

The one thing that no one has considered is: What about the coffee? Coffee beans, by their very nature, are Zen-like and live in harmony. How do you think the coffee felt being pulled into this situation? The sole purpose of a coffee bean's life is to bring you the best cup of coffee it can, filled with its unique flavor. I'll bet the little coffee beans were trembling with fear at this confrontation, maybe wondering if they'd be devoured in an iced espresso or be held captive in the espresso machine. Poor little babies.

I'd like to hear what you have to say about this. Please keep in mind that this is a Zen site and we practice peacefulness here. Maybe we could all stir a little loving kindness into our coffee and take a peaceful Zen moment to meditate on our coffee before we say anything, both on this blog and in our everyday activities. Just a thought...

Zen Coffee Meditation

2008-07-19T11:12:00.007-05:00

A Zen coffee meditation is something you can do anywhere, anytime, with or without coffee. All you need to do is breathe and be mindfully present. The following meditation is excerpted from my forthcoming book, Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation.

Breathe in a feeling of peacefulness. Take a drink of your coffee or bring to mind the aroma and flavor of your coffee to center yourself within the caffeine buzz to capture the essence of your inner nature. Breathe. Mindfully meditate on your coffee or on the qualities of your coffee. Breathe. Focus and center in on the Zen of your coffee. Breathe.

Focus and center in on the calm essence of your inner nature. Breathe. Let all your thoughts flow out of your mind. Breathe in a feeling of calm peacefulness. Breathe out worries and tension. Breathe in the essence of Zen coffee. Let your mind gently float into the ethereal essence of the steam rising from your hot coffee. Breathe. Let your mind softly flow into the ethereal essence of you. Breathe in the Zen. That’s all
you have to do; just meditate on your coffee and breathe to capture
the calm essence of your inner self.

More Loving Kindness

2008-07-09T11:34:00.018-05:00

Since I blogged yesterday about loving kindness, I decided to practice what I preach.
I have a little black pomeranian dog, Moki. (Her name is a play on words for Mocha in case you were wondering.) She has this habit of following me wherever I go and nipping at my heels. She must have been a sheep-herding dog in one of her past lives. Wherever I go, there she is, biting my ankles. I realize that in the great scheme of things, this is a small stress. But it really hurts when she bites me and since she has really sharp teeth, she's drawn blood from time to time. I would yell the word "no" at her when she nipped me and tell her she was a bad dog.

I decided to practice loving kindness toward her. The next time she nipped at me, I stopped walking and stooped down to pet her, telling her that I loved her and that biting my heels was not an okay thing to do. It worked the very first time and she hasn't nipped my ankles since. She still follows me wherever I go, but now she walks beside me and licks my ankles.

The beautiful thing about a Zen Coffee meditation is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, in any situation you're in. You don't need to find a quiet place, close your eyes, and mindfully breathe. Simply think the words loving kindness. The words will instill a feeling of peace, calm, and love within you. Let loving kindness be your mantra that resonates within and through you, expanding into the world around you.

Loving Kindness

2008-07-08T13:48:00.010-05:00

We are all filled with good qualities of peace, love, joy, compassion, and kindness. When uncomfortable situations arise, we need to remind ourselves of these beautiful inner qualities that we all possess and can share with everyone around us and in every situation we are in. We can mindfully bring those inner qualities out into our world and spread a lot of loving kindness around. When you find yourself getting angry at someone or feeling frustrated in a particular experience, take a deep breath in. Just breathe for a moment or two. Be mindfully aware of how you're feeling and know that you have the ever-present choice to respond to that person or situation with loving kindness. Take a moment or two to breathe in and smell the coffee.

In my Zen coffee philosophy, stirring just a smidge of loving kindness into the coffee cup of all your experiences produces a perfect blend of calm coffee flavored with compassion. Breathe in the peaceful qualities that are within you and feel kindness toward the person who has made you angry or the situation that brought you stress. Breathe out that loving kindness that is within you.

Meditating by Coffee

2008-07-07T17:14:00.014-05:00

You may be wondering how to meditate by coffee. How can caffeine and calm, poured into the same coffee cup create a peaceful state of mind? How can you meditate if you're all stressed out or jazzed up on coffee? Well, it's a koan... that's the nature of Zen.

A koan is a Zen Buddhist riddle that has no easy answer; it may be totally illogical in nature and it appears to be a paradox. A koan is a question that must be experienced in order to be understood. Zen and coffee don't seem to mix. Or do they? It seems they'd be completely opposite to one another, but part of the mystery of the koan is that they are truly in harmony.

What do you suppose the koan means? How do caffeine and calm mix together in a cup of coffee?