Zen is like a meditation in and unto itself. You will throw off the accumulated 'knowing' of a lifetime; let go of physical, mental, and emotional tensions; relax into the flow of an extraordinary energy; and become silent. As you do this, you will be receptive to the present moment and the potential therein.
Until one throws the accumulate knowledge he will not be able to cross the threshold of physicality. Until one becomes aware of the fact that , the self is not physical but it is formless spirit, he will not be able to drop the accumulated knowledge and he also cannot become receptive to self knowledge.
In the Chinese Taoist Tradition, they have a method known as ‘Tai Chi'. It is a method of centering, a method of witnessing. They say: do whatsoever, but remain conscious of the canter at the navel. Walking, be conscious of the canter at the navel. Eating, be conscious of the canter at the navel.
Fighting, be conscious of the canter at the navel. Do whatsoever you are doing, but remain conscious of one thing: that you are cantered at the navel. Again, if you are conscious of the navel, you cannot think. The moment you begin to think, you will not be conscious of the navel.
This is a body technique. Buddha uses breathing, breath. Taoists use hara. They call the canter at the navel hara.
All this methods based on physical self. Therefore, they are egocentric. They consider the physical self/ego as true self , therefore they will remain unaware of the true self ,which is not physical. The self ,which is in the form of spirit/consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in the three states, as their formless substance and witness. The true self is within and it is without the body and the world. Therefore this body and breath based techniques are not the means to acquire non-dual wisdom.
Some thinkers says: "Remain conscious of your thought process." Whether it is the process of the breathing, or the palpitation of the hara, or the thought process, it makes no difference. The basic thing remains the same. Remain conscious of your thought process: A thought arises: know that it has arisen. A thought is there: know that the thought is there. When the thought moves and goes out of existence, then know, witness that it has disappeared. Whenever a thought goes, and another thought comes, there is a gap inbetween: be conscious of the gap. Remain conscious of the thought process; a thought moving, a gap, again a thought ... Be conscious! Use thought as an object for your witnessing. It makes no difference: you can use breathing, you can use thought, you can use the hara - you can use anything. There are many methods and each country has developed its own. And sometimes there is very much conflict about methods, but if you go deep, one thing is essential and that is witnessing - whatsoever the method can be.
What is the use of witnessing the thoughts, when the thoughts arise to the physical entity. Without the physical entity no thoughts will arise. The breathing happens to physical entity, without the physical entity there is no breathing. Deeper inquiry, analysis revels the fact that, the self is not physical, then what is the use of witnessing the thoughts and breath when the self is not physical but it is the formless in its nature. The thoughts and breath are mere illusion on the standpoint of the formless self. Thus, realize the fact that the true self has no physical apparatus, and make the thinking faculty, think on that line. The truth will start unfolding on its own when one learns to think on the formless base.
The true witness is which witnesses the body and the world together. It is always apart and eternal. It is nothing to do with thoughts and breathing because the experiences, the breathing and thoughts are mere illusion on the standpoint of the true witness. When one reaches the ultimate understanding and assimilation he realizes the truth there is no second thing exists other then the spirit./self/consciousness.
