Zazen for Beginners Series: THREAD for QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

Thy only thing that I have to oadd is that we will physical tension in a moment that may not completely drop away: an angry boss screaming at us. I agree that Shikantaza in the moment is to go into the direct experience of bodymindworld tension. Anzan would say notice if the tension changes in that moment. Mindfully experience the physical tension of bodymind and wait to notice the softening of physical experience of anger, then, respond...Nice message.

[Jundo]

Hi, I am Sodo. I have sat for many years. I was trained in a hardcore monastic lineage and very lax lay lineage. What I like about our practice is that wonderful posture. At first, you hate it. It is so confining and so strict. Why does that attending monk keep constantly correcting my posture? The posture settles the mind; and, one day, you find that balance point and drift into being before thinking. Jundo, I really wanted to break that blender, lol!

Bows,
Sodo

Hi Sodo,

In our Sangha, we emphasize that each student should find their own (often changing) postures suited to their body, not necessarily a "one size fits all" Lotus. When the sitter finds a posture that feels stable, balanced, comfortable, allowing long sitting ... then it is good.

I often recommend this book by Mr. Johnson ...

Book Recommendation: - THE POSTURE OF MEDITATION (LINK)

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

Sodo here. I love the simplicity. How the barriers drop with our practice. Ahhh, there is so much subtlety: one starts to feel the Universe as their skin, feel the energy of life. Then, when the brain has dropped into the body a bit more; and one starts feeling bodymind as a whole on the cushion : one begins the journey into the subtle energetic movement of perception and cognition. This is a rabbit hole that a patient Osho spends years helping a student to investigate how they know anything at all.

Hi, I am Sodo. I have sat for many years. I was trained in a hardcore monastic lineage and very lax lay lineage. What I like about our practice is that wonderful posture. At first, you hate it. It is so confining and so strict. Why does that attending monk keep constantly correcting my posture? The posture settles the mind; and, one day, you find that balance point and drift into being before thinking. Jundo, I really wanted to break that blender, lol!

Bows,
Sodo

[Jundo]

Just finished watching Beginners Zazen I

(Sat during video)

[Bat5jamma]

Just finished watching Beginners Zazen I

(Sat during video)

[Jundo]

Hello Jundo. Thank you for your words about Shikantaza Zazen is not being meditation (https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tea...not-meditation). I have been just sitting every day since recently joining the Sangha and the experience cuts through everything. It is hard sometimes and easy at others. I am aware of my mind wanting to distinguish between hard and easy and even that distinguishing I am sometimes able to let go of (but that's hard at times too...!). I have meditated in the past without any purpose or goal - if one arose then I was able to let go of that at times too. I see that meditation with a purpose is not Shikantaza Zazen but my experience of 'purposeless meditation' brought me here to this Sangha and, in just sitting, there is a feeling coming home. Thank you to this Sangha for being here

Gassho,
Devaprem

(Sat today)

Lovely. Just keep sitting, Dev.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Devaprem]

Hello Jundo. Thank you for your words about Shikantaza Zazen is not being meditation (https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tea...not-meditation). I have been just sitting every day since recently joining the Sangha and the experience cuts through everything. It is hard sometimes and easy at others. I am aware of my mind wanting to distinguish between hard and easy and even that distinguishing I am sometimes able to let go of (but that's hard at times too...!). I have meditated in the past without any purpose or goal - if one arose then I was able to let go of that at times too. I see that meditation with a purpose is not Shikantaza Zazen but my experience of 'purposeless meditation' brought me here to this Sangha and, in just sitting, there is a feeling coming home. Thank you to this Sangha for being here

Gassho,
Devaprem

(Sat today)

[Jundo]

I sat this morning after listening to episode 11 on breathing. I see the up and down of focusing on breath. On one hand, while doing so, I was not very aware of my other experiences and sensations, but I was extremely preoccupied with the next upcoming number.

“Here comes six, are you ready? Don’t lose track. Breath number 6, here we go. There it is. There is goes. Breath six. That means the next breath will be… oh yes, seven, prepare for breath seven, don’t forget this next breath is seven, here it comes…”

So on one hand, focusing on breath seems to make it very difficult for me to “open the hand of thought” because I am very intentionally holding that that particular thought so tightly. Of course, with the proverbial hand closed so tightly, that left very little room for other thoughts. Though of course some of the slippery buggers still got in.

Thank you for the tools.

-Erik

Hi Snow,

Oh, we don't count breaths in our tradition. We just lightly follow as the breath enters and exists, at the nose. We even forget "inside/outside" as we are doing so, just following the incoming and receding waves without thought of coming or going. Eventually, we can move to open awareness.

But no counting, precisely for the reasons you describe.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Snow]

I sat this morning after listening to episode 11 on breathing. I see the up and down of focusing on breath. On one hand, while doing so, I was not very aware of my other experiences and sensations, but I was extremely preoccupied with the next upcoming number.

“Here comes six, are you ready? Don’t lose track. Breath number 6, here we go. There it is. There is goes. Breath six. That means the next breath will be… oh yes, seven, prepare for breath seven, don’t forget this next breath is seven, here it comes…”

So on one hand, focusing on breath seems to make it very difficult for me to “open the hand of thought” because I am very intentionally holding that that particular thought so tightly. Of course, with the proverbial hand closed so tightly, that left very little room for other thoughts. Though of course some of the slippery buggers still got in.

Thank you for the tools.

-Erik

[Bion]

I intend to. I'm on the road at the moment for work and my schedule is challenging, but like all things this shall pass soon and I intend to join some of the online sits.

Whenever it happens, it’ll be a joy to say hello to you!

gassho
sat and lah

[Snow]

Ah, fantastic!! I hope we coincide at one of the scheduled sits! Would be lovely to practice together

gassho
sat and lah

I intend to. I'm on the road at the moment for work and my schedule is challenging, but like all things this shall pass soon and I intend to join some of the online sits.

[Bion]

I sat this morning after listening to the Mirror episode (10 I believe). The use of your daughter's blocks was especially endearing. I've been sitting Zazen as a daily thing for a few weeks now and it is feeling more natural each time. Thank you for the help.

Ah, fantastic!! I hope we coincide at one of the scheduled sits! Would be lovely to practice together

gassho
sat and lah

[Snow]

I sat this morning after listening to the Mirror episode (10 I believe). The use of your daughter's blocks was especially endearing. I've been sitting Zazen as a daily thing for a few weeks now and it is feeling more natural each time. Thank you for the help.

[Houzan]

I meant that I am planning a dance with "Blue Cliff Record" this time, not Book of Serenity ...

Gassho, J

stlah

Even more so then [emoji4]

Gassho, Hōzan
Satlah