Cote: Elite in Action

A day of testing

Zazen is the seated meditation practice of Zen Buddhism, a discipline that requires maintaining a stable posture while observing one's mind without clinging to thoughts or distractions. Its goal is to reach a state of mental clarity and mindfulness, allowing the practitioner to understand the true nature of being. It wasn't new to me. I had practiced zazen before, so I knew exactly what it involved. However, looking at the faces of the others in my group, I suspected it would be a completely different experience for them.

We took some time to change clothes. For this activity, a specific outfit was required, looser, which facilitated movement and meditation. The soft rustling of fabric as we changed filled the room. The air was still cold at that hour, and I felt the morning breeze filtering through the windows, brushing against my skin as I adjusted my clothes for the practice.

Once we were all ready, we sat in dogeza—a posture of reverence—in a circle, while the person in charge of zazen began to speak. His voice was soft but monotonous, and though his words flowed calmly, the explanation about the history of zazen felt unnecessary to me. I already knew everything he was saying, so I disconnected my attention from his speech. I glanced at the others out of the corner of my eye. Some seemed interested, others confused, but most showed signs of discomfort.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the instructor paused and smiled slightly before giving the instruction I had been waiting for: "Alright, now try to copy what I'm doing."

I watched as he positioned himself in the basic zazen posture, a position that, at least for me, was quite simple. Sit with your back straight, without tension, and place your hands in your lap, left hand over the right, with the thumbs touching lightly, forming a circle. The spine should be well aligned with the head, while the chin tilts slightly downward in a gesture of humility. I did it effortlessly, feeling my body automatically adjust to the posture, as if every muscle and joint remembered the movement naturally.

Looking around, I noticed that some of the guys in the group managed to do it without problems, but others struggled to adjust their positions. Not everyone was particularly flexible. Their faces of discomfort were evident, and as they tried to find stability, they let out small sighs of frustration.

"Well done, now let's switch," the instructor announced with a reassuring smile, starting to demonstrate a more advanced posture.

The tension in the room rose slightly. I knew this new posture would be more challenging, but I wasn't worried. My body, accustomed to exercise and physical training, adapted easily. My muscles stretched, and with a deep breath, I settled in without any major issues. However, the rest of my group started showing clear signs of difficulty. The sound of muscles straining and light complaints broke the silence of the room.

"Man, this is so hard!" Shibata complained, trying to adjust but unable to achieve the necessary flexibility.

"I feel like my tendon is going to snap," murmured Hamaguchi, who, despite his athletic ability, seemed to be struggling more than expected. It wasn't surprising. Many people neglect flexibility in their exercise routines, focusing only on strength or endurance. But here, the body required a different harmony, a calmness combined with physical control that clearly wasn't easy to achieve.

The instructor walked slowly among us, observing our postures with attentive eyes. When he stopped in front of me, he looked at me with a slight smile.

"Great job, Osawa. You have perfect posture," he calmly praised.

I nodded slightly in thanks. Not that empty compliments motivated me, but every now and then, a word of acknowledgment didn't hurt. As the morning progressed, we continued with the zazen practice. Little by little, the guys in my group adapted, though not without a few complaints here and there. The soft sunlight filtered through the windows, bathing the room with a warm glow that contrasted with the seriousness of the meditation. I knew this was just the beginning of a long day full of tests, but for now, zazen was mentally preparing us for what was to come.