Zen Affirmations

If you have a meditation practice, or a silent prayer practice, get centered and consider these affirmations. Maybe they’re helpful if you struggle with direction. Meditation can be peaceful, but we don’t always know how to apply It’s benefits. Consider repeating some of these to yourself when your day is difficult.

This is the moment I have been given. I will live it.

This is my body. I will rest in it.

This is my family. I will honor it.

This is my tribe. I will spread joy to it.

These are my thoughts. I will align them with right living.

These are my hands. They will cause no harm.

These are my feet. They will carry me to holy places.

This is my heart. It is full of loving kindness.

I am alive. I have arrived.

Of course, living in the present moment is difficult, but if we make the intention to accept the moment, as it is, we’ve already won a bit of peace. It’s usually our thoughts about the situation that make it so difficult. If we need to act to protect ourselves or others, we do, but when it’s over we let that stress go and live the next moment.

Living in your own body can be difficult too. The mind has a way of keeping us separated from ourselves, and lost in analyzing and labeling situations, as well as trying to “push life around“ to fit our needs. When we rest in the body, we simply relax our thoughts and let them rest within us. It’s a little bit difficult to picture, but let all that you are exist within you.

Family can be rewarding, or troubling. Of course, we only have one family, and most of the time they’re our closest allies. In situations where our family is toxic maybe some separation is in order, but don’t be too hasty in writing them off entirely. We honor our family because in a lot of ways they know us best, and usually have our best interests at heart. Don’t forget the ones that raised you and kept you safe, or the ones that offered wise advice when you were young.

Your friend group, your social group, those you laugh with are all like a little family, which I’m calling a tribe. Enjoy them, spread joy, spread laughter. Sometimes they know us even better than our family, and can help us through some of the most difficult times.

Our thoughts are very important, because they are the instructions from the “control tower” of the brain. When our thoughts are aligned with wise living and wise being, we are aligned with wise living and wise being. Meditation helps us to let go of negative thoughts and negative distractions so that we can replace them with positive, right intentions. Don’t forget to practice right living every day.

To me, it seems to go without saying, there is no excuse for violence. The greatest of teachers were all non-violent, and we should be too. Also, emotional violence should be categorized as no better than physical violence, and we should avoid it, especially when it seems deserved. The further you get on the path, the harder it will be to practice any kind of violence, emotional or physical. Self restraint is a virtue.

It is important to have a peaceful community to call home. If there’s a day of the week when they gather, you should attend. Whether it be a temple, or a church, or what have you, it’s important to have a place of peace to reset yourself periodically. A good tradition is a valuable friend.

The highest value anyone can teach you is, of course, loving kindness. When you pray, don’t expect the heavens to change, or your enemies to change. Instead, change yourself. There’s a common quote I see online that says something like, “Be the change you want to see in the world;” we should practice this everywhere we go. Don’t wait for God to change your relationships. You be the change. True kindness is another virtue.

Thich Nhàt Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master exiled to France, tells us that in our walking meditation, every step is an arrival. You don’t need to wait for that new job or that new relationship. We are alive, and we are here!

This life is the road to heaven. If we don’t get it right this time, don’t worry, they’ll be another chance. Of course, that does not mean to be a maniac, just that ascension can take a very long time to accomplish when we’re trying, but when we’re ready it’s instantaneous. Remember your meditations, and your mindfulness. They will bring you peace.