What is Open Mind Zen?

Open Mind Zen is a unique form of Zen practice based on long-standing methods such as sitting meditation and koan practice, but also incorporating more modern modalities. We believe that the core of Zen Practice is realization and actualization of Awakened Mind in everyday life.

Zen is a true Science of Mind in which the student uses his or her own body and mind as the laboratory to engage in the experiment of spirituality. This science includes working with the mind, body and spirit for a complete experience of freedom and awakening.

The foundation of Open Mind Zen Practice embraces the following techniques:

1) Zazen, or Zen Meditation. This is the main and most important part of Zen, and usually the most difficult for a student to maintain over time.

2) Koan Practice. Koans are stories or interactions between students and teachers most of which come from the era called the Golden Age of Zen in ancient China. They are used as a method of realizing Unborn Mind and then deepening that realization. In OMZ we study the same koan collections used in traditional Zen. We also focus on the commentaries and poetry associated with each koan.

3) Zen Dialogue. This method is based on the Voice Dialogue work of Hal and Sidra Stone and the Big Mind work of Genpo Roshi. It is unparalleled in bringing both beginners and experienced students to a place of clarity. This facilitated session is an integral part of starting the Open Mind Zen method, and gives the beginner a taste right from the onset of what Zen is truly about.

4) Zen Breathwork.This sustained breathing technique is powerful in its effects. Zen Breathwork is a direct, physical way to experience how energy moves through the body & mind. Breathwork deepens breathing considerably and is an aid to sitting meditation, which relies largely on relaxation of breath and mind. It is also extremely useful to athletes, yoga practitioners, martial artists or anyone engaged in physical activity.

5) Zenergy Healing. Zenergy is a hands-on system of co-meditation (a blending of the energy field of participant and facilitator) that involves dialogue, breathwork and awareness of the chakra energy system. It is extremely powerful in its effects, and can be experienced as an individual session or in a workshop setting.

6) Teacher Contact. It is very important to understand that Zen is not just meditation per se, but rather a process of uncovering unconscious habit patterns and ways of seeing our life. This is extremely difficult to accomplish without a teacher, as the teacher helps us to go where we would not normally go on our own.

We invite all who feel a connection with Open Mind Zen to come and join the experiment! If you are within commuting distance, we suggest you begin by coming to a Sunday Dharma Talk, conducted by Sensei Al Fusho Rapaport. The talks begin with a 30-minute, silent meditation period. These talks are recorded and available on our website in MP3 format.

Then, if you want to proceed further, we will schedule a beginning orientation, which lasts about an hour. Areas covered include basic meditation practice, history of Zen and Open Mind Zen, and options for studying at Open Mind Zen Center.

If you live outside of the East Central Florida area, we also have a Correspondence Course available which parallels our student path of meditation and koan practice.