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TNH is definitely one of the most well-known proponents of "mindfulness" practice, especially within the sphere of Zen Buddhism. Then again, being from Vietnam, his own practice developed right at the crossroads of Zen and Theravada Buddhism, so it is not surprising that many of his teachings have a bit of a Vipassana-style flavor to them.
Having spent much of many of my earlier years practicing with Vipassana-style Sanghas, I can attest to how many teachers do encourage a lever of attention that is hyper-focused on one particular activity, sensation, etc. A great example is walking meditation. We were taught to focus closely on every sensation of each foot as it lifted, moved through the air, and gently touched back down to the floor. Such a practice is excellent for developing deeper states of concentration, but it certainly is not how we practice Kinhin in Zen.
That said, most Vipassana teachers (at least the ones I am familiar with) certainly do not teach that we should maintain this same level of attention 24/7, but that it should be used as a form of concentration practice. Ultimately, all such practice is designed to lead to and support the practice of "choiceless awareness", which is much closer to our practice of Shikantaza (yet still not quite the same thing... that's a topic for another day.
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I only mention all of this to emphasize that it is more of the pop-culture version of mindfulness that seems to prescribe the idea of 24/7 focused awareness. If you dig into the actual practices of the Theravada schools of Buddhism, you will typically find that it is only another tool/means to deeper, more encompassing forms of practice.
Gassho,
Seikan
-stlah-
(apologies for the extra length...)聖簡 Seikan (Sacred Simplicity)Comment
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It's physically impossible to live anywhere else other than this moment.
Tim
STComment
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I decided to change the title to "Jundo: BEING MODERATE on "BEING IN THE MOMENT" as it just struck me as a nice way to say it.
Gassho, J
STLahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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This is how I am coming to think of it too, Bion! Not so much focused and obsessed on the doing of the action, (the state of which I associate with samu), as just returning periodically to that light awareness we develop during Zazen. Checking in with oneself to make sure one is not going down obsessive rabbit holes of thought, being overly reactive to someone, or getting dangerously attached to something.
Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ProComment
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Time my brain AVM living in the moment; type entries in new better ways; typing touch taught by my OT therapist who taught this way on my new 24 gig fast computer, listening to music, speed improves as cat is happy she joins me with my music. Listening we both are happy living in the now with 2 fingers, thumbs, music making us happy in the now. She then leaves for food. I smile with words. Received call from hospital for OT on Monday makes arthritis pain bad. This is in the now.
Gassho
sat/ Tai Shi/ lahLast edited by Tai Shi; 09-17-2021, 03:27 PM.Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive,
for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆Comment
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Wonderful
Thank you Jundo.
Ghasso
Bobby
SatTodayLAHComment
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forty years ago I had read ZEN MIND: BEGINNER MIND by Suzuki Roshi, and THE GOSPEL ACCCORDING TO ZEN, teaching me Zen Buddhism. Please My teacher, Jundo allow me to digress. I had a miss-wrong diagnosis of schizophrenia in 1974, and I thought I might have bipolar disorder not schizophrenia. This was my diagnosis in 2011. My Ankylosing Spondylitis, rare arthritis, began in my spine in 1974. These illnesses were counter to some MDs"I do not know where the idea started among Zen folks that the 'goal' of this practice is to live the first way every moment of every day. If anything, our practice should not be about "being in the moment," as much as about allowing each moment of life ... happy moments and sad moments, calm moments and busy moments, up moments and down moments, doing one thing moments and many things moments ... to be just that precious jewel of a moment. Please know the timeless stillness that is the heart of each moment, even the most tumultuous moments in life.
In my view, all of the above together is truly balanced, "mindful" living." Jundo Cohen
who believed something else. None of us are 100% right; hardly ever.
In 1980 my therapy slowed; that year I was awarded teaching (TA) at the University of Iowa while I studied, and met my pretty wife to be, married in 1982, still married. I graduated from the University that year. All this was deemed impossible in 1974. The problem was trauma and substance abuse. I am an alcoholic. I taught as instructor at the University and at a local college, read books about Zen. I became sober in 1987. I read more books about Zen and read Chinese poets, and Haiku and American, and British Buddhist poets In 1993 we moved to South Dakota and still live here. I earned a BA, and three degrees, taught 22 years in places we have lived. my wife earned BA and MA, worked for the government 30 years, and, so far, our daughter, like mom and dad has studied, spent 5 years in Japan, traveled throughout the world, and taught. We are academics, writers, translators, and my wife is not only academic but an authority on many laws. However, and gratefully we are both retired. Both mom and daughter won many academic awards. I am happy to be finished with work. My wife is also very happy to be retired.
Irregular pressures in my head has not stopped Zen, my reading, nor my sitting. Pressure from AVM, lasts about an hour. Yet, I am able to write. This Arterial Venus Malformation has been present since birth. It has grown. It is more dangerous now because it could bleed, and cause stroke, and will and is producing trouble with memory. We identified the mass in the Right Temporal Lobe of my brain, and toward the front about few centimeters from the surface of my skull, 2.2 centimeters across, and a nuclease of blood vessels with veins shooting off in every direction. In March 2021. I fell ten feet down stairs, concussion and stiches. I am 70 and unsteady replacements in both knees and Ankylosing Spondylitis flairs. Yet I practice zazen.
I am Soto Zen Buddhist, and in fact sitting has since 2014, and 2016 Jukai began change of attitude. I don't see myself as immortal, and seizures showed I had a problem, How to Cook your life and Opening the Hand of Thought showed me the problem of avoiding stairs because I failed to heed advice, so now we moved my study upstairs to a spare room. I have read Classic Haiku, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, many Thich Nhat Hanh books including Commentary on the Heart Sutra, and Anger, and Being Peace four books on meditation, Books about Breath and Meditation, Zen Poets, and great Western Verse. What I know of acceptance comes from calm poetry, are the creative elements of my illnesses. Poetry or chants like the Heart, longer Lotus Sutra, include metaphor and are Grand Metaphor for all who can attain Bodhisattva, of which Buddhists are asked to teach, and carry the messages. If one seeks to become fully moral, in reality, and free, one can hear teachings of Siddhartha, the enlightened One. Thus we seek the broad vista of creation, all good things, and may be happy in carrying this message. Experiencing this is happiness. Reality for is me is as poet. It is "The Good, The True, and The Beautiful." Is this subject to interpretation? I believe this is what the Buddha realized. In fullness through teaching with contemplation and sitting we see Buddhahood. If reach for the sky, feet planted on the ground, I may see the sky.
Gassho
sat/lahLast edited by Jundo; 09-19-2021, 09:29 PM.Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆Comment
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Thanks, Jundo. It was just the post that I needed. I haven't felt good about practice for a long time. Now I understand that it is due to a certain obsession with 'being in the moment'. In my case, the problem was that I tried to be 'without thinking' at all times.
Obviously that, at least in my case, was impossible and I don't think it was especially good for me either. I have begun to focus on accepting what happens without judgment and taking it as 'my practice', regardless of whether I am doing zazen, working, walking or driving. I see that it is especially liberating. I hope I can keep that focus.
VictorV
SATComment
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But me moderate even then: If you cannot be "accepting what happens without judgement" many or most moments in life, this is because you are human, not some storybook Buddhist robot. In such case your not always "accepting what happens without judgement" should ALSO be accepted without judgement!
Gassho, J
STLahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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Spilling coffee beans while preparing to grind them, feeling frustration arise from the spilled “eyeballs”, and smiling coming back to the present moment. Perfectly imperfect.
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ST_/|\_
GenmyoComment
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Jundo that a long circuitous rout lol to get close to the [emoji491] which I have learned to eat less lol see what happens l when I start to think [emoji848] lol.
Gassho
sat/ lah
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ProPeaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆Comment
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Thank you, Jundo!
Yes, it does seem sometimes people take the teachings and sayings of Zen a bit too literally and they end up missing their meaning. The meaning is usually more important than the words used to convey it. Sometimes it can be tricky to see that, however.
Gassho
Kyōsen
Sat|LAH橋川
kyō (bridge) | sen (river)Comment
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I received an email this morning about my surgery and it has been scheduled. My beautiful and beautiful woman and my wife, well I know she is beside hesitant [emoji45] but allowing me to take care of myself. My daughter believes it will make me not so smart. My Primary Physician said that this surgery is safe and will save my life. I am not sure, but I know Dr Allan Funk knows me and knows his business of saving lives. Several times over the last 19 years he has been my doctor, and he cares about me, he has saved my life, and I trust him that this brain surgery will save my life. And right now I am numb lol [emoji23] and the scheduling nurse will call at any time so I have to leave. And, Oh, I was in my usual sit this morning at 8:30 and followed Onkai very well, followed along with the Robe Verse. And for me, this is a Robe [emoji159] of Liberation, Freeing all sentient beings, since I am a sentient being I am free. I wore my black Japanese Robe my daughter gave me from Japan, and my rakusu gift from our Sangha and my black soft meditation [emoji3284] pants, and I sat upright in my new black straight black chair with feet on the floor in Mountain Pose and hands in Mudra and always standing while [emoji2308] ing and moving to the right and sitting before our brown closet doors. I am sitting properly and Dogen would like my pose. This morning I practiced Tonglen for my family. Thank you [emoji120] for always being there for me.
Gassho
sat/ lah
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ProPeaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆Comment
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