Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

Here are some rules of thumb that might help you navigate whatever practice you are trying out.

1. Criticizing, judging, or assessing yourself isn’t virtue. It doesn’t help in meditation; it’s just more noise. And if you are criticizing, judging, or assessing yourself, don’t criticize that, and so on, until you wear out and compassion enters.


2. Criticizin

Zazen is a fundamental practice. It is about taking care of this moment with wholeheartedness. Just do it—right now, right here.

—Alan Watts, The Way of Zen