Seeking Buddha, Non-Seeking Buddha

[Tairin]

Thank you for your practice Tairin, hope your recovery is going well!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

Yes it is. Thank you.


Tairin
Sat today & LAH

[arnold]

Meitou, sorry to respond so late. I somehow overlooked your response.

I agree that the right word can be really helpful so long as we don’t get dogmatic about it. The word “faith” has a real warm resonance for me so I find it helpful. Others may find it a stumbling block and “trust” or “confidence” may be better for them.

I think that you hit on something essential with your confidence in practicing whereever you are. This is something that I understand better now. I had a tendency in the past to be very rigid in my notion of practice and it really got in the way. Silly things like if I woke up late and only had 20 minutes available to sit instead of 40 I didn’t sit at all. When I hit some real challenges in my life my formal practice that had been so seemingly solid unraveled. Although I endeavored to approach each moment of my life wholeheartedly My sitting became very erratic and I became very self critical.

Now I am finding that I am quite a bit more patient and my daily sitting no longer feels like some requirement I am imposing on myself. It’s an opportunity and a gift. If an untanticipated event comes up then that’s okay. The gift of Zazen is available and practice is my life. While I really believe that daily sitting is uniquely helpful I see less of a distinction between Zazen and daily life.

Your kind observations are helpful, so thank you for sharing. I hope that all went well with your husband’s recovery from eye surgery.

Thank you for your thoughts and your practice.

With Gratitude,

Arnold
Sat today/LAH

[Jundo]

... I had a tendency in the past to be very rigid in my notion of practice and it really got in the way. Silly things like if I woke up late and only had 20 minutes available to sit instead of 40 I didn’t sit at all. When I hit some real challenges in my life my formal practice that had been so seemingly solid unraveled. Although I endeavored to approach each moment of my life wholeheartedly My sitting became very erratic and I became very self critical.

This is why we recommend 15 minutes ... or even 5 ... of sincere sitting putting the clock aside, rather than 40 minutes or 40 years measuring length and points.

SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Why Zen Folks FAIL!! (5) - Watching The Clock Rackin Up Points

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?13634-SIT-A-LONG-with-Jundo-Why-Zen-Folks-FAIL%21%21-%285%29-Watching-The-Clock-Rackin-Up-Points

It is also vital to take Shikantaza off the cushion, and to bring it to life and many times during the day when the Samsara hits the fan!

Zazen for Beginners (13) - Anywhere, Anytime INSTA-ZAZEN!© (the © is a joke) ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14883-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2813%29

Gassho, J

STLah

[arnold]

Thank you Jundo. Just read why Zen Folks fail and that hits it on the head. Funny thing is back then I really was only slightly aware that I was doing this and I knew that it wasn't the right approach. It is strange how often in life we can be blind to how we are setting ourselves up for failure and then see it so clearly in the rear view mirror.

Gassho,
Arnold
sat today/LAH

[Tairin]

This is why we recommend 15 minutes ... or even 5 ... of sincere sitting putting the clock aside, rather than 40 minutes or 40 years measuring length and points.

SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Why Zen Folks FAIL!! (5) - Watching The Clock Rackin Up Points
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ckin-Up-Points

Always a great reminder.


Tairin
Sat today

[Meitou]

Meitou, sorry to respond so late. I somehow overlooked your response.

I agree that the right word can be really helpful so long as we don’t get dogmatic about it. The word “faith” has a real warm resonance for me so I find it helpful. Others may find it a stumbling block and “trust” or “confidence” may be better for them.

I think that you hit on something essential with your confidence in practicing whereever you are. This is something that I understand better now. I had a tendency in the past to be very rigid in my notion of practice and it really got in the way. Silly things like if I woke up late and only had 20 minutes available to sit instead of 40 I didn’t sit at all. When I hit some real challenges in my life my formal practice that had been so seemingly solid unraveled. Although I endeavored to approach each moment of my life wholeheartedly My sitting became very erratic and I became very self critical.

Now I am finding that I am quite a bit more patient and my daily sitting no longer feels like some requirement I am imposing on myself. It’s an opportunity and a gift. If an untanticipated event comes up then that’s okay. The gift of Zazen is available and practice is my life. While I really believe that daily sitting is uniquely helpful I see less of a distinction between Zazen and daily life.

Your kind observations are helpful, so thank you for sharing. I hope that all went well with your husband’s recovery from eye surgery.

Thank you for your thoughts and your practice.

With Gratitude,

Arnold
Sat today/LAH

Thanks Arnold!
I really relate to a lot of what you're saying here and I do understand what you mean about practice becoming rigid and formal, I went through a lot of this when I was sitting with the Tibetan flavour of Mahayana - part of what I saw was that my practice had become like going to church once a week on Sunday, something I took out of my pocket, a ritual that had turned into a habit, and even worse a habit that had failed to become part of my daily life. This separation of life and temple was not what I wanted, it felt all wrong and was mostly why I started to look at other forms of practice within Buddhism.
I do use Insight Timer, but not now as much as I used to, really more to be in touch with other Treeleafers as we practice together. At one point however I found that I was getting very attached to the stats and keeping them up - as soon as I became aware of that, I stopped using it for a while, sitting with whatever form of timekeeping I had to hand - that was a very liberating experience for me.
And yes, Insta-zazen, all the time, everywhere, especially wonderful to practice when queuing in a country that doesn't have the queue culture
Thank you for your kind thoughts about Stef, he's very happy with his new eye and can't wait to get the other one done! The blueness of the blue of the gas flame on the cooker is still freaking him out though!
Gassho
Meitou
satwithyoualltoday/ lah