Tendai’s Four Samādhis weave together vivid imagery and lived experience, inviting practitioners to tap into ever-present Buddha-nature. They’re not dusty relics but dynamic gateways—still as a mirror yet charged like Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing at rush hour.

1. Constant Practice Samādhi (Jijū-Zammai)
   Imagine flowing through each moment—brushing teeth, sipping green tea—with the same focus as formal zazen. This “everyday” samādhi breaks down the wall between meditation cushion and subway car. It’s a reminder that awakening doesn’t pause for laundry or deadlines.

2. Lotus Samādhi (Myōrenge-Zammai)
   Drawing inspiration from the Lotus Sūtra’s blossom emerging pristine from murky waters, this meditation cultivates purity amid life’s messiness. Picture the flowers in Kyoto’s serene ponds—despite summer heatwaves or sudden rainstorms, they stand unbowed. Contemplating the lotus anchors the mind in resilience and compassion.

3. Jeweled Stūpa Samādhi (Tōzan-Zammai)
   Envision a jeweled tower radiating light in all directions. It’s like syncing with a spiritual Wi-Fi that broadcasts boundless wisdom. By mentally constructing this stūpa, layers of ego dissolve, tapping into universal harmony—rather fitting for an age when virtual realities are pushing new frontiers.

4. Water-and-Fire Samādhi (Suika-Zammai)
   Water cools and fire burns; together they symbolize the interplay of serenity and passion. Meditating on their dance cultivates both calm clarity and fierce determination—handy qualities when navigating today’s fast-paced, meme-driven news cycles or standing up for social justice.

Each samādhi offers a unique lens: transforming routine, deepening insight, expanding connection, and balancing opposites. They’re not checkpoints on a spiritual leaderboard but tools to meet life head-on—whether finding stillness amid global chatter or igniting the spark of compassion in a scrolling feed.