Nice post!

In Zazen, however, the idea is to watch the mind. Listen to whatever you hear in the room, but don't focus on it, take it all in, and observe how the mind responds to them.

When I tried zazen at Kita Kamakura Kenchou-ji, I felt so much better afterward. It was much better than doing it by myself. The monk told me to listen to the noisy cicadas outside and let the sounds go through me... I really enjoyed it!

Since having that experience, I’ve started feeling more comfortable doing zazen on my own. It's always good to hear from elders, masters, or someone who is truly into the field.