Just a little reminder: Shikantaza Zazen is --not-- "Meditating"

[Shokai]

Where I lived in Fuchu Cho (a suburb of Hiroshima; just across the street actually) there was a Lotus garden beside where I parked my car. The blossoming of a Lotus flower was an event to watch for. The garden was tended by a farmer who grew the Lotus for the delicious root (ringo). The blossoms don't last long but, their aroma is to experience.

gassho,Shokai
stlah

[Shokai]

Very nice description of Shikantaza from Ben/Hishiryo above.

deep bows in gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Shinshou]

Thank you for this reminder. Hopefully, it is okay for me to reply.

Recently, I realized that even trying to ‘let go’ of thoughts during my zazen is counterintuitive. As I am a beginner, I often start out by following my breath and then slowly ‘letting go’ of the thoughts & feelings that arise. However, I often end up focusing so much on letting go that I cannot actually ‘let go.’ Even if I say ‘okay’ to most of my thoughts and then move on, I still feel attached to something.

Letting go of letting go is a mindbender. Then letting go of even that...

Shinshou (Daniel)
Sat Today

[Myoku]

Hello everyone,
not posting here for long, just to say how much your reminder touched me and shad a different light on zazen. Thank you Jundo. Also wanting to send a virtual hug to Ryudo, what you wrote resonates so much with me, I could have written it. For me a breakthrough was to see how pointless that circulating is, but we are all different.
Be well & Gassho
Myoku
sat

[Jundo]

Hi Myoku

Gassho, J

STLah

[Ishin]

Oh... what's the use!

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today Lah

[Mp]

Oh... what's the use!

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today Lah

What's the use in what Ishin?

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Ishin]

What's the use in what Ishin?

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

Joking about the usefulness of Zazen

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today Lah

[Mp]

Joking about the usefulness of Zazen

Gassho
Ishin
Sat Today Lah

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Heiso]

I also used to get attached to the little flashes of satori or feelings of bliss and would then chase and crave those feelings, thinking I'd failed if they didn't materialise again. But, mostly due to Jundo's teaching, I've come to see the error in that approach. I've come to see sitting now as a radical way to to stare existence in the face without shying away and without judgment - I've come to see it like being a rock in the sea with the waves of reality crashing upon it - the sea is sometimes calm and sometimes stormy but the rock is steady whatever the weather.

Oh, and I am also guilty of using the term 'meditation' to non Zen people just as ease of reference. I think if I told my wife I'm practising being a rock in the sea every morning she'd think I'd lost my marbles!

Gassho,

Neil

StLaH

[shikantazen]

I personally sit with the feeling that sitting (there facing the wall) is the only thing for me to do. Anytime I catch myself "caught up" in thoughts, I am (already) back to this sitting. I am aware that my sitting is perfectly useless and I am sitting there just to warm the cushion

Gassho,
Sat/Lah

[Jundo]

I personally sit with the feeling that sitting (there facing the wall) is the only thing for me to do. Anytime I catch myself "caught up" in thoughts, I am (already) back to this sitting. I am aware that my sitting is perfectly useless and I am sitting there just to warm the cushion

Gassho,
Sat/Lah

And that testimony from "Shikataza Zen" itself!

But would you do me a couple of favors, old timer? To help make this place a bit more personal? Would you sign a human first name to your posts, and also have an avatar photo of a human face (not only empty Zafu and wall, although I understand the sentiment. ). Helps us look each other in the eye in one of the precious ways we have around here. Thank you.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Tai Shi]

Hi, Tai Shi here. I have been trying to practice Shikantaza for about 5 years. I do what I'm kind of told. I sit upright with feet on floor though not always flat on the floor. In the years preceding Treeleaf there was a lot of (CD) guided meditations, and breathe counting as I sought relief from pain. When I came to Treeleaf I began to sit a combination of guided meditations, and Shikantaza. Then during an Ango, a priest-in-training told me to treat breathing like a cow chewing its cud, Another told me to focus on my pain which can be intense. I was also told to let go, to focus at first on breathing, and let thoughts fall away. Now my pain is worse, and I can't sit up by myself, so I prop myself against a wall, and sit on a cushion on my chair, and as always, I rest my hands in lap in a relaxed mudra, but I also lie in bed, and sit in my cushioned easy chair recliner. So what is right? To help with pain, I will continue with guided meditations, and I will sit Shikantaza as I can. Does this sound okay? I hope my attitudes change as I ever continue the student. Is this also okay?

Tai Shi
Gassho
sat

[Jundo]

Hi, Tai Shi here. I have been trying to practice Shikantaza for about 5 years. I do what I'm kind of told. I sit upright with feet on floor though not always flat on the floor. In the years preceding Treeleaf there was a lot of (CD) guided meditations, and breathe counting as I sought relief from pain. When I came to Treeleaf I began to sit a combination of guided meditations, and Shikantaza. Then during an Ango, a priest-in-training told me to treat breathing like a cow chewing its cud, Another told me to focus on my pain which can be intense. I was also told to let go, to focus at first on breathing, and let thoughts fall away. Now my pain is worse, and I can't sit up by myself, so I prop myself against a wall, and sit on a cushion on my chair, and as always, I rest my hands in lap in a relaxed mudra, but I also lie in bed, and sit in my cushioned easy chair recliner. So what is right? To help with pain, I will continue with guided meditations, and I will sit Shikantaza as I can. Does this sound okay? I hope my attitudes change as I ever continue the student. Is this also okay?

Tai Shi
Gassho
sat

Sounds okay.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tai Shi]

Sounds okay.

Gassho, J

STLah

Yes it’s okay!


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