Stillness and Motion: The Energy of Zen

Uncover the dynamic essence of Chinese Chan (Zen) with "Stillness and Motion: The Energy of Zen." This profound audio guide delves into the core teaching that there is "stillness in motion, and motion in stillness". You'll explore the two fundamental approaches to Chinese Chan practice: Sitting Zen (Sitting Chan) and Motion Zen (Motion Chan).

Discover how both practices are powered by the same essential element: Energy—life force, qi, the power of manifestation and wisdom.

In Sitting Zen, learn to cultivate stillness externally while becoming deeply engaged with the body's internal energy systems. As external motion ceases, your focus turns inward to the meridians, chakras, and the flow of vital qi. This deep engagement leads to a profound experience where the sensation of the physical body dissolves, leaving only a sense of living, flowing energy. It is a state that is "quiet on the outside, but full of motion on the inside".

Conversely, Motion Zen guides you through active movement—such as walking, jogging, or stretching—while maintaining deep stillness and focused awareness within. Your external movements become guided and aligned by an internal focus, allowing you to detach from distractions and concentrate on the balance, rhythm, and flow of your motion. This practice cultivates a state that is "moving on the outside, but still on the inside".

The audio emphasizes that energy is not optional, but fundamental to Zen. Without this vital life force, wisdom, and power of manifestation, Zen would be "a withered Chan—not a living Chan". Energy is the very "foundation upon which the teachings of Zen stand," fueling the practice and opening the path to deeper realization.

Ultimately, both Sitting Zen and Motion Zen are presented as tools pointing towards the same ultimate experience: Wu Wei. This is a state of effortless being, pure awareness, and a merging with universal consciousness, where doing disappears and effort dissolves.