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

[Tai Do]

Thank you for this reminder, Jundo. It is really important for me to revisit it now that Ango has begun.
I used to be able to distinguish the thoughts that came from the thoughts I consciously fed. I always try to let go of my thoughts. But they keep coming back. Now it became more difficult to do so and I end up in a long stream of thoughts until I realize that my mind has found a way to trick me into the thoughts. I return to the hara and the breath for some time, and there goes my mind again tricking me.
Nowadays it is really difficult to experience samadhi during zazen. And I think I’ve never experience anything like satori, which, I have to confess, I crave to experience many times while sitting.
While at it, I keep siting and reminding me that I have no other goal than to sit. Clouds or no clouds, the blue sky is there.
Gassho,
Mateus
Sat today/LAH

[Jundo]

Nowadays it is really difficult to experience samadhi during zazen. And I think I’ve never experience anything like satori, which, I have to confess, I crave to experience many times while sitting.

Oh, you want this, you want that. What is the peace and freedom of being "free of wanting" like?

Gassho, Jundo
STLah

[Kevin M]

Oh, you want this, you want that. What is the peace and freedom of being "free of wanting" like?

I don't know, but it sounds like something I want.

This is a challenge for me also, to sit with the intent of just sitting without having the intent of just sitting. I feel there's a line there I have to surf by feel without thinking and words. I'll get up on the wave and as soon as I have a good 2-3 seconds my mind goes "I'm surfing!" and then I crash.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

[Tai Do]

Oh, you want this, you want that. What is the peace and freedom of being "free of wanting" like?

Gassho, Jundo
STLah

Mateus
Sat today/LAH

[Jundo]

I don't know, but it sounds like something I want.

This is a challenge for me also, to sit with the intent of just sitting without having the intent of just sitting. I feel there's a line there I have to surf by feel without thinking and words. I'll get up on the wave and as soon as I have a good 2-3 seconds my mind goes "I'm surfing!" and then I crash.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat

It sounds like you are seeking a special state of mind that you can crash from. Sounds like you are still confusing Shikantaza with other meditation styles in which one seeks to attain and hold some samadhi state. Where is the "place" that one cannot fall from or fall into? (A clue: you are always "here," realized or not.)

In Shikantaza, one needs the "intent" to get one's ass on the cushion each day. One needs whatever "intent" is required just to sit upright without falling off the cushion (although there is "no place to fall," one's ass can fall off a Zafu ... a Koan). However, it does not really take any conscious intent to keep one's ass on the Zafu, so once on the Zafu please drop all intent, need, grabbing on to thoughts, need for "samadhi" or "satori" or anything at all. Nothing is lacking, and one's ass on the cushion is Buddha's ass on the cushion.

Does a rock or a mountain need "intent" to sit as a rock or a mountain? What are they seeking? Do they wish for "samadhi" or to find their True Rock or Buddha Mountain? Neither is this dead sitting, like a bag of rocks, because we are alert, aware, awake. However, while alert, aware, awake one is also complete, whole, equanimious and accepting like a mirror.

Just Sit.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Kevin M]

One needs whatever "intent" is required just to sit upright without falling off the cushion ...

Does a rock or a mountain need "intent" to sit as a rock or a mountain? ...

Just Sit.

Thanks Jundo.



PS glad I wasn't sipping a beverage when I read the part about falling off the cushion

Gassho
Kevin
S@2Day

[Kevin M]

Does a rock or a mountain need "intent" to sit as a rock or a mountain?

This was a useful metaphor for me. My Zazen today felt much more ... right, somehow. I had been using more active metaphors such as driving and keeping my eye on the road, non method non acting etc. But it helped to just think of myself as a collection of rocks that had been carefully arranged into a stable pile and was just sitting there inert and being pulled gently into the earth by gravity.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat — though I prefer to put it as “I ‘rocked’ today”


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[Horin]

This was a useful metaphor for me. My Zazen today felt much more ... right, somehow. I had been using more active metaphors such as driving and keeping my eye on the road, non method non acting etc. But it helped to just think of myself as a collection of rocks that had been carefully arranged into a stable pile and was just sitting there inert and being pulled gently into the earth by gravity.

Gassho
Kevin
Sat — though I prefer to put it as “I ‘rocked’ today”


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Yes, a great metaphor and beautiful teaching by jundo.
But be careful and don't make any metaphor a concept you cling to, do not treasure it within mind as an orientation or a instruction for shikantaza.
In my own experiences it happens easily to have a great metaphor that works to maintain some kind of state that feels right, but sooner or later there comes a point where you start to compare experiences, states... When the feeling of right zazen is lacking somehow, when you expect to sit as the mountain but it doesn't feel anymore "rocky" and you start chasing satisfaction or peace or any other state of mind than you discriminate, judge, like or dislike and leave the just sitting... So we need to let go of mountains, rocks, sitting, driving cars. Everything is here and now, perfectly and we don't need to reach a goal, we don't need to change or manipulate our experience, we just have to be open for whatever comes and goes within our perception, like the mirror that reflects without grasping and judging (attention, another metaphor :-) )

At least that's my two cents,

Gassho,
Ben

Stlah

Gesendet von meinem PLK-L01 mit Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

I have one week old orthopedics in both shoes, heel lift in left shoe, inner souls in both shoes, and because both knees are fixed, finally I stand upright; at first, with pain. Now I have relief and stand upright. What does this have to do with Shikantaza? Well, though my left side is supported just a little, and I sit on an inverted wedge cushion, my feet are flat on the floor with no pain. I am for the most part sitting (with tons of exercise behind me, and which will go on the rest of my life) in proper chair form without moving (much), I find just sitting without pain easier for just sitting. I leave here to just go sit.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho

[Kevin M]

Yes, a great metaphor and beautiful teaching by jundo.
But be careful and don't make any metaphor a concept you cling to ...

Yes that’s always the danger with these metaphors and agree they have to be set aside or next I’ll be saying “then after about 2-3 seconds I think ‘I’m a rock!’ and then crash” haha

Gassho
Kevin
Sat



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[Jundo]

Yes, a great metaphor and beautiful teaching by jundo.
But be careful and don't make any metaphor a concept you cling to, do not treasure it within mind as an orientation or a instruction for shikantaza.
In my own experiences it happens easily to have a great metaphor that works to maintain some kind of state that feels right, but sooner or later there comes a point where you start to compare experiences, states... When the feeling of right zazen is lacking somehow, when you expect to sit as the mountain but it doesn't feel anymore "rocky" and you start chasing satisfaction or peace or any other state of mind than you discriminate, judge, like or dislike and leave the just sitting... So we need to let go of mountains, rocks, sitting, driving cars. Everything is here and now, perfectly and we don't need to reach a goal, we don't need to change or manipulate our experience, we just have to be open for whatever comes and goes within our perception, like the mirror that reflects without grasping and judging (attention, another metaphor :-) )

At least that's my two cents,

Gassho,
Ben

[Tai Shi]

No matter what shoes I have, or cushion I sit on, or foot position, ad infinitum, pain will always 'dog my steps,' and if I don't learn to just leave it alone, I will impede more than my share of time allowed without focus. Sometimes it makes me sad I have this "load of pain," then I am reminded, no I really try to 'put myself' into the place of blindness (my wife is nearly blind without contacts), or hearing impaired, or people who cannot talk, or sit, or walk; then I am brought to tears, or for me the worst, people who cannot let their alcoholism go. The last frightens me because it can bring on death. I know that is why my Higher Power is who He is. But this person cannot be 'put on others,' and many even find a way without a Person as higher power. And, pain is such a dubious load to focus as possible with Shikantaza, or I vow to just sit. Yes, this sitting, or reclining, or walking, or lying down, this I will do, am doing.

Tai Shi
Gassho
sat _/|\_

[Getchi]

Jundo - many thanks for a great and deep teaching as usual!!!


@TaiShi, my wife and I went to a world-acclaimed restaurant. Before we could be seated we heard the people before us ask "where should we sit?"
We sniggered, muttered "on your arse" and thought nothing of it.

Later the owner thanked us for saying what he wished to say.



One eye left,
one eye right -
nothing else has ever
been set
just so.