Categories: Fitness & Health; DIY & Crafts

ZEN: Your path to enlightenment in New York City

By Chelsea
updated 2 months ago

Being Zen in New York always reminds me of the stand up that Ellen Degeneres did on her HBO special where she poignantly describes being in a meditation class, having your mind drift and then BAM! The jingle to some medicine commercial pops up and will not. go. away. Then it's back into the real world where, within minutes, you are flipping off that "stupid idiot BEEP BEEP!!!!" for cutting you off. I guess what I'm trying to say is, "enlightenment" is difficult to find, or maybe to KEEP. That doesn't mean we should stop trying, there's nothing wrong with striving for a little inner peace.

MEDITATION

Meditation is KEY to finding some sort of sanity. Meditation teaches us how to let go of our conditioned thinking and fall into a deeper relaxation, connect with our “truth” and relax into a deep stillness.

Well- that all sounds NICE but…..

If you’ve ever tried to meditate in NYC, you know how difficult it is. The only open space that I have in my apartment is the size of a toilet seat and is crammed between my;living room, “kitchen”, sink, dog, chair, TV, bedroom. Yes, it’s all really that close to each other. Your first instinct is to go outside…...another think that you CANNOT DO. What are you going to meditate on 8th ave, or on the subway platform? I think not.

Unless you’re really comfortable with yourself, going into a deep meditation in a park or some place public is generally difficult to do. You find yourself blinking open your eyes to see if anyone is pointing and laughing. Not zen. So the solution?? Find a meditation center.

Guided meditation is sometimes EXACTLY what a New Yorker needs because when you’re in a classroom, you can’t decide to return that follow up call on your Blackberry. When you’re out of your home you aren’t going to get as easily distracted and start start doing the dishes instead. Plus, the energy of a meditation center FORCES (in the most zen/nonviolent way, to CHILL OUT. To “leave the day at the door” and with the assistance of some Swami, to breathe.

Enfleurage Inc

321 Bleecker, New York, NY 10014

The MINUTE you walk into this store an wave of CALM sets over you. The oils, the smoke that wafts through the store with different exotic scents. You almost feel like you stepped into one of Harry Potters magic stores or the witch store in The Craft. It’s quite intriguing.

Land of Buddha

128 Mac Dougal St, New York, NY 10012

I have a collection of tiny little Buddhas doing different things scattered about my “zen space.” Looking at them is a reminder of why I’m sitting with my legs crossed, chanting- when I start to drift and think about cheese instead.

Zen Center Village Zendo

588 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Surprisingly situated amongst the hustle and bustle of the city…..there is SOME ZEN. It’s as if you are transported into a whole different realm.

Still Mind Zendo

37 W 17th Street, New York, NY 10011

Their emphasis is to deepen your insight and realization of your essential self. Isn’t that what we’re striving for?? At least finding PEACE with our “essential selves…” or finding it at all.

Zen Center Nyc

500 State Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

I always find it amusing how they describe their “just sitting” meditations, as if they’re really simple. JUST SITTING??? Sounds like it should be easy, but we’re usually too worked up to be able to enjoy it. If we even manage to DO IT.

Zen Chogye International Center of N Y

400 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10009

Their philosophy….”Zen, it is faith that steadfast concentration on the question of self-nature will bring clarity and energy to everyday life. That ultimately, Zen practice will not focus on an isolated “I” but on the whole real world.” AH, what a concept eh? In a city where we are already on top of each other, finding that awareness to actually acknowledge that there IS a world, that doesn’t revolve around “I” or, “You.”

New York Insight Meditation Center Inc

28 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

You can manage to sneak out and do one of the day long retreats, I would seriously recommend it. As Americans, and especially as New Yorkers where we have to work around the clock in order to pay our ridiculously high rent, a day that is dedicated to finding PEACE is essential.

SET THE MOOD

Usually when someone says “set the mood” they are attempting to have some sort of orgasm by the end of the evening. They are WOOING a lover. Well, the same going for “wooing” your inner peace.

A lot of people can’t make it to a meditation center and some of you may find that uncomfortable. So, if you think you’re going to wind down at home you MUST set the mood and in this case that doesn’t involve a large goblet of red wine. If your apartment looks like a dorm and the only scent is your neighbors Chinese takeout, you’re going to have a problem.

Setting the mood means CREATING A SPACE. Even if that space is just a corner. Collecting things that trigger a sense of calm; candles, incense, cozy blankets and pillows. Gather pictures of things that inspire you or remind you of your true INNER nature (if a picture of George Michael does that for you, then so be it.) Whatever it is, you have to put an effort into creating it. That is the MOST important part if you want to reflect/meditate/whatever you want to call it, at home.