Ok...the way I see it...an important part of zazen, is to notice how the mind tries to distract the practitioner from the essential (in zazen: feeling the body and breathing, everything which is "NOW".)
Now...I'm no expert but for me when I'm doing TJQ or for example Zhang Zhuang...I must work on the same matter. Then again, some advice I've heard on ZZ is to help feeling relaxed, by visualization. Now visualization is for my understanding not used in zazen, because it would also mean that you are "working" with your mind, creating things, in oppose to learn how to let the mind rest.
But in zazen, the practitioner also has to count the breaths, and counting is actually done by using the mind. So as far as I understand, it's a practice to learn to simultaneously let the mind be at rest, but also have the mind and body (breathing) work together, without having to concentrate too much on the mind, to learn to focus on the essential, with the help of mind. Now isn't this pretty close to what is taught in tai chi or am I totally lost?
Now about zhang zhuang...I've also read that visualization with the help of mind, is often only used as long as it is necessary for relaxing the body and being able to do natural breathing...and once achieved this, one might only stand (and notice the thoughts, but not grabbing them), and some also want to count the breaths...just as in zazen.
I have also been taught, that sometimes it's good to practise TJQ so that you also count every move...to develop better concentration.
Then again...when I was doing zen-meditation...I was told that actually the typical sitting legs crossed -posture is actually only meant to help the body stay aware and make the practise of meditation easier...that one can actually practise zazen standing, or sitting on a chair...or even lying on the floor...but it is only more difficult.
you said
meditation, in absolute, should be whatever you are doing, you are calm and attentive to that presence!
I agree! The reason I practice meditation, is to learn to "grab" it with me whenever I don't meditate in a posture...having a calm mind. I've noticed that both...zazen and practicing taichichuan have had a same kind of effect on me..
Now with this...if I sit in my zazen (which I rarely do nowadays), and in the position, actually lift my hands to a zhang zhuang position...and keep counting me breaths...what's the difference anymore? I can also stand up and be in a "normal" ZZ posture and keep counting...and practising zazen and ZZ the same time...stillness and letting the breathing happen by itself is for my understanding a mutual concept, in zazen, zhang zhuang and taijiquan.
Thoughts?