Jundo Offers: The Answer to -All- Complaints about Zazen

[Jundo]

Not a day passes without someone writing me with a disappointment, bothersome distraction or big obstacle to overcome in their Shikantaza Zazen practice. In fact, 100% of the comments I get from folks about problems in Shikantaza are because Shikantaza is failing to do what they wish, to produce pleasing results or to meet expectations.

However, Shikantaza is the very dropping of wishes, of seeking results and comparing "what is" to expectations! It is radically allowing what is, knowing that all feelings of disappointment, bother and desire exist largely between the ears. I dare say that the -only way- to sit with disappointment about Zazen is to be disappointed!

In Just Sitting, one can leap through the little self's selfish wants and desires to a wholeness free of all little wants and desires. The wholeness without desire or want is revealed as always here when we soften or drop desires and wants, right here as this world of desire and wants. Oh, aches and pains, ups and downs, hard and easy times will always be part of life, and they will sometimes sting, but they are just life, samsara, this world! However, nothing is an "obstacle," and instead, is only the place where we are, like Buddha under the Bodhi Tree.

That is how all wishes are fulfilled, results attained and expectations achieved!

Funny is this Wise-Crazy, counter-intuitive Shikantaza.
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no-complaints.jpg

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Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[DaveSumner]

I’ve enjoyed this video.

Gassho, David
sat/lah

[Maro]

Jundo Roshi writes: "It is radically allowing what is, knowing that all feelings of disappointment, bother and desire exist largely between the ears".

I find it encouraging that at least a part of me responds: "aye! it is so, between the ears" and is grateful for this understanding. It inspires the willingness to keep making that leap again and again: "In Just Sitting, one can leap through the little self's selfish wants and desires to a wholeness free of all little wants and desires."

In gassho and thankful
Maro (a new member of Treeleaf Zendo).

[Myo-jin]

Shikantaza is a funny thing. I came to it after coming to my own conclusion that there really was no ‘point’ to meditation practices, there was nothing to get, nowhere to be and nothing to do.

This was after years of Raja yoga as my sitting practice, which certainly had its objectives at different stages, certain states of awareness to experience, and even kundalini awakening. At some point, I had to concede that these experiences were just empty ego posturing, the spiritual equivalent of trying on new hats, and while interesting don’t actually help me in any way.

So Shikantaza was refreshing in its objectless sitting, although what is abundantly clear to me
is that there is something about it I still don’t get, and I often veer more towards the ‘if no point, then why not just do something more fun?’ frame of mind, and consider just throwing in the towel altogether. Yet somehow I still find myself sitting most mornings without knowing why, except that’s what I’ve decided to do.

In mountain climbing, if you get lost in a fog bank, rather than climbing aimlessly, the thing to do is just sit down quietly, I suppose that’s what I’m doing.

Satlah
Gassho

M.