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WHAT's OFTEN MISSING in SHIKANTAZA EXPLANATIONS ....
Shikantaza Zazen must be sat, for the time it is sat, with the student profoundly trusting deep in her bones that sitting itself is a complete and sacred act, the one and only action that need be done in the whole universe in that instant of sitting. This truth should not be thought about or voiced in so many words, but must be silently and subtly felt deep down.
I tell my new students to trust in the method until it proves itself. If need be, “fake it ‘till you make it” in nurturing these feelings. “Just Sitting is Buddha” is not a mantra that should be voiced in words during Zazen, nor something that must be unfailingly felt at each and every moment of sitting. Rather, there only needs to be a subtle, yet vital sense and faith, felt deep down in the gut while sitting, that “THIS IS IT! THERE IS NO OTHER IT!”
Jundo many thanks for sharing this article, its good to see these observations collectively, as I am sure I have read much of what you say in a number of different threads.
Although I have now been sitting daily since joining the sangha last year, a mere 5 months or so I still feel I'm in the Fake It "class", as I'm yet to realize how to feel this deep trust you speak of "in my bones". I sit with no expectations, struggling to let go and relax but like escaping from that Chinese finger tube, that's what I need to do. I understand the portability, as I sit without judgement, desire or anger and know that I can carry this with me throughout the day. Yes some days are harder than others and someone or something may just push the wrong button too far but generally I feel I am more accepting of what's going with me and inside and around me.
But how do I find that core deep trust and finally sit without think of sitting, without thinking of not attaining or chasing thoughts of am I doing this right, knowing there is no right or wrong good or bad. So despite committing to sit daily and having only missed one day since Sept 1 last year, this is something I still struggle with understanding. Perhaps I just need to sit some more................
Love it, thanks for sharing it. Very clear.
Zazen is zazen
I should very much like to share that when it comes out with people that ask me about it.
Though it's good for nothing
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