I'd wager a guess that you don't solve crossword puzzles while meditating in lotus position in a candlelit room, the scent of vanilla filling your nostrils as incense burns in the corner, pillows strewn all around, and your eyes closed lightly as you take deep breaths and meditate. It might be nice if you did - but a bit disruptive as you would have to take sneak peeks at the grid and clues before going back to your deep breaths. Instead of calm peaceful thoughts, your mind would race frantically to come up with the perfect solution.
This classic scene of meditation doesn't exactly meld well with solving crosswords, but there are several similar aspects and experiences that relate to both completing crossword puzzles and Zen. You can easily find yourself in a Zen-like state as you spend concentrated time focused on solving a puzzle. The world around you fades to the background as your mind works in harmony with your tool of choice. And even though you may not realize it, you often incorporate Zen philosophy and teachings when working through a crossword puzzle.
The word Zen derives from the Chinese word Ch'an, a major school of Buddhism which itself was derived from the Sanskrit word dhyana, meaning meditation. Zen is based on the belief that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-reflection, and intuitionÑplacing minimal emphases on faith and devotion. Zen is a Buddhist tradition that originated in India before it traveled to China and then Japan. Buddhism began approximately 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the area that is now India, meditated under The Bodhi Tree and achieved awakening. Then known as Buddha, he wandered for many years teaching his viewsÑthat life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire and suffering.
According to Robert Allen in his book Zen Questions, anyone can practice Zen. "Zen sees itself as only one of many paths to liberation. It does not, therefore, reject other people's beliefs." Zen is a path of exploration, not a religion. People from all spiritual beliefs and walks of life are welcome to attempt the journey and are encouraged to do so. Zen is about the experience of enlightenment, not the rules for achieving it or the ideas that describe it. Anyone can believe in Zen; few realize its enlightenment.
Core beliefs of Zen are that all things are connected, everything is in harmony, and everything is fluid and changing. We are one with each other, the animals, and the Earth. The only boundaries that exist are the false ones we create in our minds. In Zen, it is crucial to break those notions and rid ourselves of any attachments to our ego, or false notion of self. Suffering occurs when we hold on to something that is not ours. This includes material objects, as well as the people and relationships that we work to protect and hold tight in our lives. In being connected with everything around us, there is no need to grasp and own. In having nothing, you have everything.
Zen in itself is not a tool that will help you be a better crossword puzzle solver, although some of the Zen philosophies work to assist you in accepting mistakes and digging into your subconscious to find hidden solutions. Mainly the Zen teachings will influence you and help you to master your inner self. You may find yourself using calming techniques and clearing your thoughts before starting to solve a puzzleÑmoving yourself into a working meditation as you find the rhythm of the crossword puzzle and the minutes tick by without any care. This is similar to the trance people feel when they are enthralled in their task, one that completely takes over and allows them to be at harmony with the world.
When Zen blends with art, it culminates in a weave of humanity and its surroundings. Art is the human effort to imitate and supplement nature. It is about expressing yourself, observing the world around you, and being skilled in performing tasks. In his book Zen and the Art of Making a Living, Laurence G. Boldt wrote, "You can experience your everyday life as art by bringing to it the qualities of the artistÑinspiration and absorption, creativity and resourcefulness, play and delight." Indeed crossword-puzzle solving incorporates all of these traits and allows the puzzle solver to embody the qualities of the artist. When I solve a crossword puzzle, I use it as a diversion and playtime. I am forced to use creativity and my own resourcefulness to solve the tougher clues. I am most definitely absorbed in the crosswordÑat least if I am intent on finishing the puzzleÑand can find inspiration in the themes or clues given. And then there is the art of crossword puzzles themselves. The crossword mania that has swept the world since 1913 has resulted in a variety of artistic impressions, including books, paintings, advertisements, and vanity license platesÑto name a few.
Zen and the Art of Crossword Puzzles serves to explore crossword puzzles through a potpourri of personal narratives, interviews, quotes, and news articles on the techniques and tools for solving puzzles, using puzzles to guide and assist you in life, constructing puzzles, and more. In my quest for interview subjects, I found many people willing to give their thoughts on their beloved hobbyÑa judge, a teacher, a mother, a fiancŽ, a software analyst, a retiree, and others from a variety of aspects of life. I spoke to people in Australia, England, and everywhere in between. Throughout the following chapters and stories, youÕll find a gentle weaving of Zen philosophies and the ways they often parallel the construction and solving of crossword puzzles.
Excerpt from the Book: