Stillness Across Traditions: Hindu Meditation vs Shikantaza
Meditation has long been a cornerstone of spiritual practice in many traditions. Two of the most profound approaches are rooted in the ancient spiritual heritage of Hinduism and in the Zen tradition of Japan. While Hindu meditation encompasses a broad spectrum of techniques aimed at developing concentration, insight, and union with the divine, Shikantaza embodies the essence of Soto Zen practice by emphasizing pure, objectless awareness. This article will explore key differences, similarities, and benefits of these two approaches and offer insights into how they can complement each other.
Historical and Philosophical Foundations
Hindu Meditation draws upon scriptures such as the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Its aim is to still the fluctuations of the mind, cultivate inner awareness, and ultimately realize the self’s unity with universal consciousness (Brahman).
Shikantaza, literally "just sitting," emerged in 13th century Japan under the guidance of the Zen master Dogen. It evolved from the earlier teachings of Chinese Ch’an but took a distinctive turn by de-emphasizing koan study in favor of unbroken sitting practice, free from conceptual striving.
Practice and Technique
Hindu Meditation encompasses a range of methods, including:
Dharana (focused concentration): fixing attention on a single point or object, such as a mantra or a candle flame.
Dhyana (meditative absorption): sustained awareness of the chosen object, leading to deep inner silence.
Jnana (self inquiry): questioning the nature of the self with prompts like "Who am I?"
Bhakti (devotional focus): cultivating love and surrender through chanting or visualization of the divine.
Practitioners often follow a stepwise progression from external focus to internal absorption, supported by ethical guidelines (yama and niyama), breath control (pranayama), and physical postures (asanas).
Shikantaza is remarkably simple in form yet profound in effect. The practitioner:
Assumes a stable posture – typically seated on a cushion with a straight spine.
Places attention on breath or body sensations but allows no fixation on any object.
Embraces each moment fully without judgment, without generating thoughts or images intentionally.
Maintains open awareness – thoughts arise and pass like clouds without attachment.
There is no goal or attainment beyond the practice itself. The essence of Shikantaza is practice-as-enlightenment.
Goals and Outcomes
Both traditions aim for transformative insight, but they frame the goal differently:
Hindu Meditation often aspires to samadhi, a state of deep absorption wherein the individual ego dissolves and the meditator experiences oneness with pure consciousness.
Shikantaza embodies enlightenment in every posture; there is no separate goal. The practice itself is already the full expression of awakening.
Key Similarities
Training of Attention: Both emphasize sustained awareness and mental stability.
Ethical Foundation: Respect for moral precepts underlies both practices, though Hindu meditation codifies them explicitly in yama and niyama.
Embodiment: Posture and body alignment are crucial to sustaining meditation without distraction.
Direct Experience: Personal, experiential insight is central, instead of purely intellectual understanding.
Key Differences
Approach to Objects of Focus: Hindu techniques often use a chosen object (mantra, deity image), whereas Shikantaza deliberately avoids any object.
Structure vs Openness: Hindu paths follow a graduated structure (dharana to samadhi). Shikantaza bypasses stages and invites open, immediate awareness.
Goal Orientation: Many Hindu systems orient toward a culminating experience of samadhi. Shikantaza dissolves the distinction between practice and realization.
Cultural Context: Hindu meditation is woven into the broader tapestry of Vedic and classical Indian spirituality. Shikantaza is deeply rooted in Zen’s emphasis on simplicity, directness, and aniconism.
Benefits of Each Practice
Hindu Meditation:
Enhanced concentration and mental clarity.
Cultivation of devotion, love, and compassion.
Gradual release of stress and emotional reactivity.
Development of ethical living and self-discipline.
Access to deep states of bliss and unity.
Shikantaza:
Heightened capacity for presence and mindfulness.
Reduction of habitual mental chatter through open awareness.
Direct insight into the nature of mind and reality.
Cultivation of equanimity toward all experience.
Integration of meditation into ordinary activity as every moment is practice.
Integrating Practices for Modern Seekers
For those drawn to both traditions, a complementary approach can be enriching:
Begin with Focused Techniques: Use mantra or breath-based methods to stabilize attention.
Transition to Open Awareness: Once concentration is strong, introduce periods of Shikantaza-style sitting, allowing thoughts to arise without grasping.
Alternate Devotional and Non-Object Practice: Devotional chanting can open the heart, while Shikantaza refines the mind’s openness.
Embody Ethics: Observe compassion and nonviolence in daily life, providing a firm foundation for deeper insight.
Final Thoughts
Hindu meditation and Shikantaza offer two pathways to inner stillness and insight. One provides a structured, graduated route through concentration, devotion, and inquiry. The other invites complete givenness to each moment without grasping. Appreciating their differences and similarities enriches any practice. By weaving together focused techniques, devotional warmth, and open awareness, modern practitioners can experience the profound benefits these ancient traditions have to offer.