Zazen is built on a specific physical "Tuning." If the body is out of alignment, the "Internal Logos" remains in a state of Cacophony.
The Mudra (The Cosmic Mudra): The hands are placed in the lap, dominant hand on bottom, non-dominant on top, with thumbs lightly touching to form an oval. This creates a Closed Feedback Loop of energy. If you become sleepy, the thumbs droop; if you are agitated, they press together. The Mudra is your System Monitor.
The Three-Point Base: In the Full Lotus (Kekka Fuza) or Half Lotus position, the knees and the base of the spine form a stable triangle. This is the Structural Integrity that allows the spine to act as an Axis Mundi.
In Systems Thinking, Zazen is the act of becoming a Passive Observer of your own internal system. By stabilizing the "hardware" (the body), you allow the "software" (the mind) to settle into its natural state of Dynamic Equilibrium.
Researcher Note:
The "Middle Way": Zazen is a balance between Entropy (sloth/sleepiness) and Chaos (agitation/anxiety). To stay in the center is to maintain Mastery over the nervous system.
The "Middle Way": Zazen is a balance between Entropy (sloth/sleepiness) and Chaos (agitation/anxiety). To stay in the center is to maintain Mastery over the nervous system.