Meditation
The Way of Balance
Do you want to practice the most direct route to enlightenment?
“Meditation is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Zazen | Elemental Meditation Training
(Included in The SEEKER and INITIATE Training Tracks)
Zen Meditation (Zazen) is the ultimate sustainability and resiliency practice. To meditate is completely natural. It is through meditation that we begin to train our mind to become less erratic and more focused. During the unfolding stages you will become increasingly flexible, determined, and clear in body and mind. Zazen (similar in nature to Vipassana) is the meditation practice taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. 'Zen' is the Japanese word for meditation. Zen Buddhism focusses on the practice of meditation to alleviate pain and suffering and is the most direct route to enlightenment. Together we learn how to practice zen on the cushion and off the cushion (in every aspect of our daily lives).
Elemental Meditation applies similar Zen Meditation techniques except where you work with the breath in Zazen - in Elemental Meditation you learn how to meditate with one of the 5 Gateway Elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Nature, Stone).
Beginners and advanced practitioners welcome.
Novice Training Track
The SEEKER
Seekers enter the Novice Track through the Essential Meditation Gateway. This monthly membership of only R100 (€20) offers you the following:
- SEEKERS receive a 2.5% discount on all In-Person Retreats
- Intro to ZAZEN (1x guided recording)
- Daily ZAZEN meditation (live online)
- One Indigenous tree planted for every new Sangha Member
- Nangaku’s Spiritual Journey: A Memoir (Ebook)
- Free BEZA’s Monthly Newsletter
- *R100 off every time you register for any of the sessions listed below:
- *50min Heart Mentoring Sessions (R500 to R400)
- *50min Shamanic Mentoring Sessions (R500 to R400)
- *50min Divination Sessions (R900 to R800)
- *Monthly Subscription & Registration required
R100/€15 monthly member payments
The INITIATE
Initiates enter the Novice Track through the Introduction to Shamanism Gateway. Begin your Journey around the Medicine Wheel. This monthly membership of R500 (€75) offers you everything in The SEEKER (see above) plus the following:
- INITIATES receive a 5% discount on all In-Person Retreats
- Shamanic Training (10hrs+ of recordings for each of the 5 Elemental Modules – a module lasts 2 months)
- Elemental Manual (step-by-step Shamanic Training E.Workbook)
- Elemental Meditations (5x guided recordings – 1 per Elemental Module)
- A Sunday-long ZAZENKAI per month ~ a Meditation Immersion (live online with training)
- A Zen-&-Nature Dharma Talk per month (live online during Zazenkai)
- *Monthly Subscription & Registration required
R500/€75 monthly member payments
We plant a tree for the first training you attend. We help restore your inner and outer environment.
Meditation Retreats
Step away from the hustle and immerse yourself in a serene oasis of calm with our rejuvenating meditation retreats. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to meditation, our carefully curated retreats offer a sanctuary for self-discovery and mindfulness. Nestled in nature’s embrace, you’ll find solace in guided sessions, holistic practices, and serene surroundings. Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with your inner essence. Embrace the stillness you’ve been seeking – book your spot in our upcoming meditation retreat and embark on a path to profound serenity.
Embark on a Transformational Journey
Zen Meditation (Zazen) is the ultimate sustainability and resiliency practice. To meditate is completely natural. It is through meditation that we begin to train our mind to become less erratic and more focused. During the unfolding stages of practice and training you will become increasingly flexible, determined, and clear in body and mind.
The mind, and consequently the body, becomes more open, relaxed, and present. Stress is released and you will become more insightful, peaceful, and connected. Frustrations and limitations begin to dissolve. A confident sense of stable presence supports your capacity to evolve into your latent potential and life purpose.
Extractive and scarcity mindsets begin to give way to an emerging interconnectedness with your true nature and the environment around you. Meditation inclines you toward creating abundance. As a result, you will begin to nourish life everywhere. As practice develops, compassion and intimacy with all life grows.
Authentic Guidance
It’s important to note that the benefits of zazen meditation may vary from person to person, and they often become more pronounced with regular and consistent practice over time. Additionally, the holistic nature of these benefits makes zazen a valuable practice for overall well-being and personal growth.
Our experienced instructors specialize in zazen meditation instruction. They have deep knowledge and expertise in Zen Buddhism, offering you authentic guidance to develop and deepen your meditation practice.
Through our meditation instruction, you’ll learn to integrate mindfulness into every aspect of your life. Develop the ability to stay present, centered, and aware in the midst of daily activities, bringing greater peace, clarity and efficiency to your interactions, work, and personal well-being.
I attended BEZA’s meditation training earlier this year, and have been joining the daily meditations since then. I have been meditating for many years, but Nangaku’s clear, eloquent teachings really get to the heart of the practice, and have given me deeper insight and, critically, the motivation to maintain a regular meditation practice. During the daily meditations Nangaku offers help with challenges that arise in the practice, and the guidance that he has given me has been invaluable.
His depth of knowledge, wisdom, sensitivity and commitment are clear. I felt the positive benefits of the practice almost immediately and am calmer, more focused and more embodied. The teachings and daily practice have been a great gift in my life and I wholeheartedly recommend BEZA.
Zazen Meditation Benefits
Spiritual Benefits
- Deepened Spiritual Connection: Practicing zazen leads to a profound sense of spiritual interconnectedness.
- Awakening: Zazen is a path to spiritual awakening or enlightenment, offering a deeper awareness of reality and your existence.
- Inner Peace: The practice leads to a profound sense of inner peace and equanimity.
- Greater Wisdom: Zazen cultivates wisdom and insight into the nature of reality and the self.
- Alignment with Values: Practitioners find that zazen helps them align with their core values and purpose in life.
Emotional Benefits
- Stress Reduction: Zazen reduces stress and anxiety, fostering emotional well-being.
- Emotional Resilience: Regular practice increases emotional resilience, helping individuals cope with life’s challenges.
- Enhanced Compassion: Zazen promotes empathy and compassion, leading to improved relationships with oneself and others.
- Increased Self-Awareness: The practice encourages self-reflection and self-awareness, aiding in emotional growth.
- Reduced Depression: Zazen has been associated with reductions in symptoms of depression and a more positive outlook on life.
Mental Benefits
- Increased Focus: Zazen cultivates concentration and the ability to sustain attention, improving focus in daily life.
- Stress Reduction: Regular practice reduces the body’s stress response and enhances resilience to stressors.
- Clarity of Mind: Zazen promotes mental clarity, helping individuals see through mental clutter and distractions.
- Improved Memory: Enhanced concentration and mental clarity leads to better memory retention.
- Emotional Regulation: Zazen encourages observing emotions without attachment, leading to wholesome emotional regulation and reduced reactivity.
Physical Benefits
- Improved Posture: Zazen encourages an upright and stable posture, which promotes improved spinal health and alleviates back pain.
- Enhanced Relaxation: Regular practice leads to reduced muscle tension and a more relaxed physical state.
- Lowered Blood Pressure: Zazen has shown to reduce blood pressure, contributing to cardiovascular health.
- Improved Breathing: Mindful attention to the breath in zazen restores respiratory function and lung capacity.
- Enhanced Sleep: Practicing zazen before sleep alleviates insomnia and promotes restful sleep patterns.
Social Benefits
- Enhanced Relationships: Zazen encourages mindful and compassionate interactions, leading to improved relationships with others.
- Conflict Resolution: Improved emotional regulation and empathy aids in resolving conflicts peacefully.
- Community Connection: Zazen is often practiced in a community setting, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
Earthen Zen
The Elemental Journal
Part 4: A Journey Home: Reflections from South Africa’s Sacred Waters
Part 3: Norway’s Sacred Waters: A Journey Through Myth, Ritual, and Flow
