[HealthDharma] Turning Suffering Inside Out, chapter eight, part one

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  • Kokuu
    Treeleaf Priest
    • Nov 2012
    • 6841

    [HealthDharma] Turning Suffering Inside Out, chapter eight, part one

    Dear all

    This is a substantial chapter so we will need three weeks to go through it. The first section comprises
    pages 119-127 (from the beginning of the chapter up until ‘Learning to Take the Body’s Point of View’)

    Darlene begins this chapter by observing that Americans (and by that, we can read the western world, at least, and it may well apply to other places) prefer activities which have a clear end result rather than the goalless practice of Zazen. Our culture also judges us by our achievements and how much we produce. She notes that even on vacation we can substitute work activities for a hectic schedule of ‘fun’.

    If we follow this goal-oriented way of being, how much are we listening to what our body needs, and how much are we using it as a physical tool to achieve our desires? We can often go through a day without registering our body except for essentials such as washing, toileting and eating/refuelling (and even then we can often skip or rush through these activities).

    Darlene suggests that we can move our focus to our bodies even when doing goal-oriented activities. Once the initial planning is over, we are free to feel the sensations of our keys on the computer keyboard (as I am now), the warmth of water as we do the dishes, and the feel of our feet on the ground as we move from one activity to the next. She also notes that we can get into a habit of switching between the physical and mental so as not to neglect our body.

    Darlene goes on to talk about The One Who Is Not Busy (which comes from the koan Ungan Sweeps the Ground, Book of Equanimity Case 21). She points to the importance of sitting practice in allowing us to notice sensations we might not previously be aware of, and sense those as well as the mental space of thoughts with which we are often preoccupied.

    Being aware of bodily sensations can connect us profoundly with the whole world of form and sensation and be deeply healing. That is not to say we should attach to it, but rather give it our gentle and curious attention.

    Darlene points out that there are many reasons to connect more with our physical self, a key one of which is re-engaging with a part of our reality that we can often neglect, giving us a more three dimensional experience of life. Zen practice is about being with what is, rather than our mental picture of what is, and bodily sensations are a huge part of that. Tapping into bodily sensations can also put us in touch with The One Who Is Not Busy rather than the mind that often seems to be always planning, reflecting and analysing.


    Question prompts:

    1. How does it feel when you sit in touch with your bodily sensations rather than your thoughts?

    2. How often during the day do you take time to do this whether through sitting or mindfully using your body, whether through exercise or everyday physical tasks?


    Wishing you all a healthful week.

    Gassho
    Kokuu
    -sattoday/lah-
  • Kaitan
    Member
    • Mar 2023
    • 542

    #2
    Lovely chapter, Kokuu.
    I agree that being aware of the body is so necessary and helpful because it's a break from the goal oriented lifestyle that keeps us restless and so entangled with the stories we tell ourselves.



    1. How does it feel when you sit in touch with your bodily sensations rather than your thoughts?

    I feel lighter, less worried about problems and, as Darlene says, I start to notice various things in the background, either in the mind or surroundings, that were always present yet often ignored.
    2. How often during the day do you take time to do this whether through sitting or mindfully using your body, whether through exercise or everyday physical tasks?


    I sit twice per day 30ish minutes each time, though before China I used to do yoga at least twice per week and enjoyed it a lot, however even that at some point it becomes just another goal oriented activity to achieve more flexibility or to get fit, so it's tricky not to fall into that. I could say the same for zazen...

    Gasshō

    stlah, Kaitan
    Kaitan - 界探 - Realm searcher
    Formerly known as "Bernal"

    Comment

    • Alina
      Member
      • Jul 2023
      • 181

      #3
      1. How does it feel when you sit in touch with your bodily sensations rather than your thoughts?
      It's a relief, quiet, even fun sometimes
      or
      I feel how much tension I've been accumulating, I realize I've been working while sitting in a posture that is not ergonomic at all and now there's pain in my neck and shoulders.

      2. How often during the day do you take time to do this whether through sitting or mindfully using your body, whether through exercise or everyday physical tasks?
      Since I work from home, I've set a timer and at those times I take breaks, I go for a 10 minute walk in a nearby park, or just walk around the house and stretch a bit. I also practice yoga, almost every day, but just like Kaitan said, even that can become another goal oriented activity, so I need to remind myself to focus on the breath and the body in the different postures instead of "keeping my hand clinging to my thoughts".

      Gassho
      Alina
      stlah

      Comment

      • Tairin
        Member
        • Feb 2016
        • 2818

        #4
        Thank you Kokuu for continuing to lead this discussion. I like the concept of “The One Who Is Not Busy”. I feel we’ve encountered this before. So many people in my life seem to be going going going all the time. I treasure my slow start to my Saturday or Sunday morning. Our relatively quiet vacations. Friends comment on that they really should try to slow down but never do.

        1. How does it feel when you sit in touch with your bodily sensations rather than your thoughts?

        I am quite physically active but as I am getting older I find that little pains linger longer than they did when I was young. While not debilitating I am aware of them. Maybe the most noticeable bodily sensation is my tendency towards restless legs. That is an insidious compulsion to need to move my legs. The more i focus and am aware of it the stronger the compulsion. It can keep me from sleeping sometimes. To sit in touch with my body in those instances is to just accept it rather than sit in frustration.

        2. How often during the day do you take time to do this whether through sitting or mindfully using your body, whether through exercise or everyday physical tasks?

        Every day. As I mentioned above I am quite physically active. I exercise daily. As I’ve gotten older I’ve had to focus more on form and how my body is feeling. What I could blast through with little consequence as a young man no longer works. I have to listen carefully and take whatever is given. Some days that means take a break.


        Tairin
        Sat today and lan
        泰林 - Tai Rin - Peaceful Woods

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