Every Sunday morning, we feature a one-on-one Q&A with Jun, our resident curator, exploring the connection between Zen and architecture.
Where do you find your Zen?
To answer that, I’d first need to define what my Zen means, which, as we all know, isn't easily described by words. I'll give it a try nonetheless.
I find my Zen in moments where I am fully connected with ‘truth’—with reality, and with my physical and mental state at that moment. It’s about not being concerned with the past or the future, about being right or wrong, about successes or failures. For me, playing sports with my son, watching movies with my wife, trekking in the depths of mountains, skiing down a black-diamond slope, or working on projects with challenging yet purposeful goals—where the only thing I need to focus on is giving my best—are the moments I find my Zen.
In terms of relaxation, I enjoy taking long walks, whether in a forest or the busy streets of Hong Kong, Tokyo, or New York. Those moments often bring me peace. Of course, sleep is another great refuge. Lastly, I find Zen when I engage in sitting meditation for extended periods, especially during sesshin, where we sit for nine hours a day, for days in a row. These are transformative experiences that deepen my awareness of myself and the world around me.
Photo: Joe Jun Liao