MF 25 - Charlie Ambler Creator of The Daily Zen

Sicco Rood interviews meditation teachers of various wisdom traditions

Jun 29 2015

MF 25 - Charlie Ambler from The Daily Zen Talks about his Meditation Journey

What brought you to a meditation practice?

Charlie describes himself as a rather impulsive and anxious person. His grandmother (a music historian) interviewed John Cage, the composer at one point. He gave her a copy of a book on Zen Buddhism. Charlie ran into the book, as a 13 year old kid, and was curious about it.

He got more and more interested in Buddhism, and started reading more about it online as well. He then started practicing it in his room, the various breathing meditation exercises. He settled on simple Zazen Meditation breathing. He's 22 at the time of this interview, so it's been about 9 years since he first got interested in Buddhism and meditation.

Charlie finds that if he doesn't meditate regularly, then he's more prone to anxiety, destructive ways of thinking and harmful habits. He then feels generally less centered, and less creative.

And what specific practice are you using at this time?

Now he's doing zazen meditation, or breath counting.

He remembers the old saying, "Let your thoughts come and go, but you don't serve them tea."

Have you noticed changes in your day to day life?

When he was younger, it was easier to meditate, there was less, a smaller bank of sensory information. Meditation was easier, despite the fact that he was a hyperactive kid. But now with all the reading he's doing, and responsibilities and things and thoughts that come with adulthood, and the busy life in the big city (New York) he finds it more difficult to practice. But for that reason it is more challenging and rewarding as well. All the more reason why it is so important for him to do it each day.

Detach myself from wanting to get anything out of it. Meditation becomes very difficult when he wants to get something out of it.

You get into a chasing mind, which makes it all the harder.

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