Zazen is a meditation practiced by Zen Buddhists that may also be considered the "study of the self," according to the Zen Mountain Monastery. Ultimately, with regular practice of zazen, a person should develop the capacity to perceive mind, body and breath as one entity. Zen practices rely on habitual seated meditation that can be made easier with mental preparation and effective positioning.
The Right Spot
If you are experienced in Zen meditation, you can meditate in any place. However, if you are a novice you may want to find a spot that is free of sensory distractions such as blaring horns and cold temperatures. Since your ultimate goal is to be able to gaze into emptiness without focusing attention on any one thing, you should do everything you can to keep such potential interruptions to a minimum.
Floor Sitting
You will find more stability by sitting on the floor with a zafu, or a small pillow, to raise the buttocks and allow the knees to contact the ground. Zen Mountain Monastery online mentions that with the buttocks on the pillow and the knees on the ground, a sort of tripod base can be formed to give you 360-degree stability while you meditate. You will achieve more stability by slowly rocking your body front and back to find your center of gravity.
Body
If you keep your tongue lightly pressed upon the upper palate and keep your eyes lowered to gaze about three feet in front of you, you won't frequently be distracted by the need to swallow or blink. To maintain a relaxed but straight posture in Zen meditation, keep your chin tucked in, your muscles soft, your nose in line with your navel, and your torso straight as though it is being lifted up by the ceiling.
Breathing
As you naturally inhale and exhale through your nose, imagine your breath as part of your mind and body. Focus your attention on counting each breath, inhaling and exhaling 10 times then starting back from the beginning. This practice will center your mind and body.
Thoughts
When your mind wanders, objectively acknowledge each thought and let it fly free as you resume counting your breaths. You will find serenity if you learn how to keep your thoughts from bothering you. By counting breaths and maintaining a peaceful mind, you will finally be able to detach from any conscious objectives you may have and naturally slip into a state of being one with everything around you.
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