Zen as Embodiment (2) - Buddha 'Sitting' Buddha

[Shonin Risa Bear]

In surveying the past, we find that transcendence of both unenlightenment and enlightenment, and dying while either sitting or standing, have all depended entirely on the strength (of zazen).

-- Dogen

"Die sitting, die standing" was the motto of a hard-working old nun, and she in fact managed to die standing in the Buddha hall of her tiny temple, as reported by Paula Arai. I think of her often.

I connect this with this from Shunryu Suzuki:

We just practice zazen, taking our example from Buddha; that is why we practice. Buddha taught us how to act through our practice; that is why we sit.

How to act: there are many dissipative, greedy, foolish, angry ways to act. There are a few ways to act within clarity and peace. Sitting can be a ground from which to act within clarity and peace.

Thank you, Jundo. This was just the thing.

gassho, shonin sat and some lah today

[Washin]

How to act: there are many dissipative, greedy, foolish, angry ways to act. There are a few ways to act within clarity and peace. Sitting can be a ground from which to act within clarity and peace.

Gassho,
Washin
stlah

[Seishin]

[Tokan]

Thank you Jundo

When you take this truly to heart, I believe your practice begins to really unfold - no attainment - just depth and insight (for me anyhow!)

SatLah

Tokan

[Tobiishi]

sat today

[VictorV]

Today I sat without letting go of the conviction that I am a Buddha sitting like a Buddha and it has meant a giant change in my zazen.
Now I try to live off the cushion with the same conviction: talking like a Buddha talks, walking like a Buddha walks, driving like a Buddha drives ... Thanks Jundo, it's like the missing piece in my life.
Gassho
SATLah
V.

[Jundo]

Today I sat without letting go of the conviction that I am a Buddha sitting like a Buddha and it has meant a giant change in my zazen.
Now I try to live off the cushion with the same conviction: talking like a Buddha talks, walking like a Buddha walks, driving like a Buddha drives ... Thanks Jundo, it's like the missing piece in my life.
Gassho
SATLah
V.

Just don't let it go to you head, because EVERYTHING is also Buddha, including dog poop and rusty tin cans.

Gassho, J

STLah

[VictorV]

Gassho
SATLah
V.