The Zen Master's Dance - 8 - Fukan Zazengi (middle of p. 37 to middle of p. 38)

[Gregor]

I'm currently on a bit of a mission to take better care of myself, eat right, loose weight, ect.

I have switched (back) to a low fat (no oil) plant based (vegan) diet. I have lost 50lbs.

Working with my doctor I have set a goal to loose an additional 30 lbs.

All well and good, but nothing to attain loosing the weight is a goal but not the goal. My body will heal and become the natural weight it is supposed to simply by eating the correct foods it has evolved to eat.

I don't need to strive or push just live each day naturally without tension the results will follow but nothing to achieve. This is just a process of returning to my natural state.



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[Tomás ESP]

I want to be in better physical shape. I tend to set out unrealistic goals for myself and then, of course, fail to accomplish them. And then I decide exercise is not for me. Seeing this happen several times and learning more about Shikantaza, I realize that the approach I have been taking was wrong. When walking, right foot, left foot, and so on. Step by step. And if goals need to be set, being aware and setting them with kindness towards myself, loving myself regardless.

Gassho, Tomás
Sat

[aprapti]

very often i have a big lack of energy.. i take antidepressants, but that helps just a little.. I have this already all my life.

i want to do many things (like being more active on Treeleaf ) but i just don't do it.
For many years i struggled against it, but the last years i don't do that any more. I just accept that this is my life and i am content with it the way it goes..


aprapti

sat

[Chikyou]

We continue from middle of page 37, "Give up even the aim of becoming a Buddha," stopping right before "The Mechanics of Sitting" on page 38.

Questions ...

How would giving up the aim of becoming a Buddha embody a taste of Buddha?

Can you describe some goal you are aiming for in life now but have not yet achieved, or frustration in life when a goal was not obtained? Describe your feeling of aiming now for something you are working toward, or disappointment about a past goal not achieved.

Now, describe it again with a description embodying "nothing to attain, nothing to become."

Both ways can be true ways to experience goals at once.

Please respond before reading other folks' responses.

Gassho, J

STLah

Asking some tough questions I had to think about this one for a few days.

I think that in order to become a Buddha, we HAVE to give up the aim of becoming Buddha. After all, isn't desire (even to attain enlightenment) one of the road blocks to attaining enlightenment?

Your other questions are tricky because right now, at this point in my life, I'm content with what I have and what I have achieved (while still working and occasionally worrying to maintain it. The house I bought last year requires continual upkeep, my generator is old and cranky and I'm trying to keep it going until the replacement comes in, etc.)

At prior times in my life, I definitely experienced disappointment (as well as a remarkable lack of self worth) which I now see had more to do with my mindset than it did with what was actually happening in my life at the time. You can be happy with nothing or have much and never be satisfied, and I was the latter.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly