315 - Bad Zazen: Not Just an Oxymoron episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 30, 2025 · 32 MIN

315 - Bad Zazen: Not Just an Oxymoron

from The Zen Studies Podcast · host Domyo Burk

The form of meditation we do in Zen, unless we're working on a koan, is called shikantaza – nothing but sitting – or silent illumination. It's been called a "method of no method," in which we let go of any striving whatsoever – even to control our meditative experience. So can we do "bad zazen?" Theoretically, there's no such thing, and yet it sure feels like there is! What is this about?

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315 - Bad Zazen: Not Just an Oxymoron

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The form of meditation we do in Zen, unless we're working on a koan, is called shikantaza – nothing but sitting – or silent illumination. It's been called a "method of no method," in which we let go of any striving whatsoever – even to control our...

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