If you look up the meaning of zen in the dictionary, you learn this:

 

1: A Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation.

 

2: A state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort. 

 

An example of the second meaning might be: The zen of gardening - you become one with the plants, lost in the rhythm of the task.

 

Is There a Zen of Coffee?

 

We imbibe the fragrant essence of the coffee bean all year round and for many reasons. Coffee is sustenance and solace. It's the force that reinvigorates and renews both mind and body and brings focus to our days. When we take in that inviting aroma and savor our first sip, we are inviting something magical into our lives. But is all of this the zen of coffee?

 

How many of us have thought of tapping into what is perhaps coffee's most neglected potential. We don't really think of it as a meditation aid, but we should. But you say, coffee's reputation as a high-intensity source of fuel to keep us going would seem to work against any role in meditation. However, coffee is well qualified to serve as a meditation tool.

 

Think about what happens when you drink this ambrosia. Coffee focuses the mind by drawing attention to its own quintessential being. Just like meditation, it's a restorative pause and a moment in time when our attention is undivided and concentrated in one direction. 

 

The Ritual of Coffee

 

Just like zen, coffee ushers ritual into our daily lives. We prepare and brew our coffee in our own individual way and follow a set of long-followed observances that gradually lead us to the nirvana we are seeking. In practicing our coffee rituals, we are unconsciously emptying our minds and washing away the impurities gathered there.

 

It's Not Just About the Mind

 

We all understand the physical dimensions of coffee. Caffeine not only concentrates and stimulates our minds but the dopamine it releases also leaves us feeling contentment and happiness. We enjoy our coffee at regular interludes during each day. In an unpredictable world, we count on and cherish these coffee breaks. They are secure anchors that no storm can displace. When we pause to drink coffee, we create a set of tried-and-true spaces that can be used to effortlessly work meditation into our busy schedules.

 

Combining our coffee moments with meditation is simply about pressing a pause button and being mindful for just a few short minutes at a time. These moments can and should be used to refresh and restore our whole being.

 

The Zen of Coffee: Practicing Mindfulness With Coffee

 

You will enjoy following these mindful steps and get much more out of your cup of coffee.

 

1.    Focus on how warm your cup is and how comforting it feels next to your skin.

2.    How else does your cup feel? Is it heavy or light? Rough or smooth? Large or small?

3.    Be aware of rising steam. Observe the tendrils playing and drifting.

4.    Savor the aroma. Take slow, deliberate breaths and pull it deeply into your center.

5.    Now take a sip and let the taste linger awhile on your palate. Enjoy its full essence and explore its many complexities.

6.    Empty your mind of everything but these coffee sensations. Allow no other thoughts to come through.

7.    The doorway you have been searching for is now unlocked. Walk on through.

 

The zen of coffee - you become one with the coffee, lost in the rhythm of the ritual of drinking it.

 

·      To practice mindfulness with coffee, choose the absolute best coffee from Operant Coffee. We offer Fair Trade Certified and organic beans for your enjoyment.