I just learned about zazen the other day, and from what I understand shikantaza is 'just sitting' and being aware of your thoughts. I read that the importance of it is facing reality, and in soto zen that is thought to be true 'enlightenment'.

For the past several years I have had the habit of laying in bed and sort of letting my mind 'play' for 15-60 minutes in the morning. Usually my mind just wanders and occasionally I get some insight out of it. It's always pretty visual and sometimes borders on lucid dreaming.

So to me it sounds like even though the 'practice' isn't technically shikantaza, maybe it's similar. So is what I have been experiencing a meditative state, or just a mind playground?