tal stance toward all thoughts. Distractions undoubtedly plague both the novice and the experienced meditator. Vipassana trains the meditator to re-focus his or her attention as soon as the distraction is noticed. Instead of forcing oneself to re-focus on the present, the meditator must simply acknowledge all thoughts, sensations, and feelings in an attitude of neutrality. Persistent and consistent Vipassana meditation strengthens a person's observational faculties (Tart and Deikman, 1991, p. 35). Buddhist psychology maintains that developing skill in self-observation leads to enlightenment.
The objective of Zen Buddhism is the realization of satori, or enlightenment. Enlightenment is based on freedom and self-reliance. Two methods of Zen practice aid the spiritual aspirant in reaching satori: verbal and actional (Suzuki, undated, p. 6). The philosophy of Zen is embodied in verbal experiences and expressions that possess the quality of riddles. Zen verbalisms are "living words" whose purpose is to filter into the inner recesses of the mind of the hearer. A simple phrase from a Zen master can literally be worth of thousand words in the enlightenment it brings to the spiritual disciple. In the actional practice of Zen, learning occurs by doing. Like the verbalism, the purpose of Zen direct action is the awakening of the disciple's consciousness and attunement to Reality. Zen actional practice fosters a sense of self-reliance in that the practitioner benefits from direct experience as opposed to living vicariously through the spiritual experiences of others (p. 9). Zen actionals incorporate the daily routine of the disciple and demonstrate that spirituality is something within, not something without. The awakening of the mind to satori occurs through inner growth and therefore is incapable of being systematized.
Clearly, achievement of satori requires considerable effort. The spiritual aspirant who acquires satori...