Upon check-in at the Oriental Hotel Kyoto Rokujo, guests may receive a piece of candy. What if I were to tell you that you can practice Zen with this little piece of candy-- would you believe me? Okay, I can tell I’ve lost you, so let me explain:

There is a phrase in Zen practice- “Gyo-ju-Zaga”. It represents the four cardinal behaviors- walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. The thought goes, that whatever you are doing within those four behaviors, whether it be eating lunch or wringing out a wet rag, if you are able to focus on any one thing, you can practice Zen. For example when cleaning, focus on the movement of the rag. When walking, focus on each step at a time. In the same way, focus on sucking a piece of candy and you just might find your way to Zen. Zen is a completely abstract idea, so it is only natural that you cannot imagine it. But you don’t have to imagine-- you just have to try it for yourself and you will become absorbed in the experience. Take candy for instance- it is no more than an afterthought in our daily life- we eat candy while working, while playing, etc. I am almost certain that sucking a piece of candy was never the main activity for you. That is why it will be all the more difficult, yet all the more rewarding, to stop and focus your full attention on a piece of candy. Try it.

Focus on the piece of candy. It only takes 7 minutes. To help with your concentration, we have prepared a sound meditation to listen to while practicing Zen. Sit in a stable position anywhere you feel comfortable, whether on your bed or on a chair. Let’s experience an inner journey with this piece of candy.