About

spir-i-tual: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit.
zen: a Japanese form of Buddhism that concentrates on learning through meditation and intuition.

About Spiritual Zen the Blog

“Spiritual Zen is Spiritual Health”
- Master Zhen Shen-Lang

Spiritual Zen is a blog about finding inner peace and the ability to match calamity with serenity. Spiritual Zen is about learning to accept the consequences of being oneself—finding inner peace and serenity through self-acceptance. It is looking at life through a lens of gratitude, abundance, and striving each day to be the best we can be.

Some key topics of Spiritual Zen:

• ACTION – We are judged by our actions, not our intentions
• PRAYER – Asking for guidance
• ACTION – Take the body and the mind will follow
• SELF-ESTEEM – Learning to have a healthy relationship with oneself
• ACTION – “I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” – Lily Tomlin
• MEDITATION – Listening for the answer
• ACTION – Three frogs are sitting on a log, one decides to jump. How many are left? Three, the frog made a decision but took no action

About Spiritual Zen the Author

Spiritual Zen is the day-to-day quest to become a better husband, friend, son, brother, grandfather, and human being. I am not a Zen Master and know little about Buddhism. I do however, often find my beliefs and philosophies to be similar to those of Buddhism. I would say culturally I am a Christian. I believe in an all-inclusive all-loving God; that each individual has a right to believe in a God of their understanding. I judge no one in their beliefs. I use the term God because it is easy while inadequate to explain the unexplainable.

From the The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, “It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence.” I experience God’s presence in many different ways. From simple things like paperclips on the ground to diving with God’s creatures under the sea. SpiritualZen.net is where I share these experiences and adventures along with life’s lessons and how I find happiness in everyday living.

About Jared Akers

As a child growing up on a farm, I had always dreamed of becoming a zookeeper. By the time I was twenty two (1992), I had dropped out of college and was working full time as a primate keeper at a small zoo in East Central Kansas. This was my dream job and I loved it. Then one day, just like that, I did not love it anymore—I was bored. At that moment I had a realization—I was never going to be satisfied with life. Ever. I felt it deep within my soul and felt there was nothing I could do about it.

I had always drank or “partied” a lot… more than most.  On the outside I appeared jovial, positive, and outgoing. On the inside, I was lost. Resigned to a life that would never truly be satisfying. I was numb and liked to stay that way with alcohol.

For years I bounced around from job to job. From rough-in carpenter to chimney repair, I did a little of everything. In March of 1997 while working as a manger at a bar & grill and drinking more than ever, I knew I had to quit the alcohol. After surviving 6 days of severe alcohol detoxing in a hospital, I vowed to never drink again. I became an introvert and avoided social events where alcohol was served. Spiritually… no pun intended, I was empty. As they say, “I was so dry I was a fire hazard.”

Six years later I decided a glass of wine would be nice with my girlfriend. Once a pickle, never a cucumber. For the next several years I struggled to find some type of healthy balance in my life, married then annulled six months later, dealing with alcohol depression and having no idea how to be in a relationship with myself or anyone else. Life had become something I had to endure, not live.

On March 12th, 2006, I was at a bottom emotionally. The way I saw it I had two options; suicide, or face my demons and recover. I believe choosing life was the first truly un-selfish act I had done up to that point in my life. In every area of recovery—be it from depression, addiction, co-dependency, low self-esteem, etc.—it all comes back to the same thing; being comfortable in our own skin through self-acceptance and love.

Since that day in March of 2006 I have dedicated myself to living a life based on spiritual principles, personal development, self-searching, and being of service. With a lot of outside help and massive action, I have found the key to happiness; stop searching for it, it’s right here right now! In May of 2007 I received a Bachelors Degree in Information Technology. On December 2nd 2008 I got married on the Island of Kauai. On April 24th 2009, I became a grandfather. On May 9th of 2009 I completed a Masters in Business Administration. I am currently a web developer/programmer and enjoy writing music, reading, spending time with my wife and granddaughter, SCUBA diving, and sharing my life experiences through writing both here at Spiritual Zen as well as at HowToFindHappiness.net.

To say I am satisfied with life today would be an enormous understatement. I am truly grateful to be alive as well as present—both emotionally and physically—for as much grace, love, and joy in every moment possible. As for everything else… well, that’s just gravy!

Thank you for stopping by and feel free to contact me anytime about anything.

Jared Akers