During Zazen, thoughts are not treated as enemies to be defeated nor treasures to be pursued. The basic attitude is one of non-interference and non-attachment: when a thought appears, it is simply acknowledged without judgment and allowed to pass on its own. Rather than labeling thoughts as good or bad, helpful or unhelpful, they are regarded as transient mental events. This perspective loosens the habitual tendency to identify with them as “my” thoughts that demand a response. Over time, this stance reveals that thoughts are more like passing clouds than solid realities.

Whenever it becomes clear that attention has been carried away by thinking, the practice is to return gently to a chosen anchor. This may be the upright posture, the sensations of the body, or the natural rhythm of the breath. Some traditions also employ counting the breath or a simple phrase as a point of focus. The essential element is the repeated, unforced returning: noticing that the mind has wandered, and calmly reestablishing awareness in the immediacy of sitting. This rhythm of wandering and returning is not a mistake but part of the discipline itself.

Zazen is sometimes described as “just sitting,” a form of practice in which there is no attempt to manufacture a special state of mind. The aim is not to forcibly empty the mind or stop thoughts, but to cultivate clear awareness of the thinking process while remaining centered in the act of sitting. Thoughts, sensations, and emotions are observed as they arise and dissolve, without analysis or emotional entanglement. In this way, mental activity continues, yet it no longer dominates the field of awareness. Such practice fosters an open, receptive attitude often likened to a beginner’s mind, in which experience unfolds freely without clinging.