This is a wonderful beginner series and I continue the daily zazen practice. I just finished talk #17. Still learning and finding that the next video seems to naturally answer the questions that arise in my mind as I practice. Great continuity and natural flow to the information.
p.s. Jundo, our family cat looked SO much like your cat in these videos. Right to the black mark by the nose. I miss her, and it brings warmth to see your cat moving about and meowing as you do the recordings.
Sat today
Veronica
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Oh, just sit. Join in whatever talks look helpful, ignore the rest.
There are also our Buddha Basics and Bodhisattva Basics threads here, with some introductory information on those topics:
Some recent questions, discussions and events can be found in the "Recommended Threads Today" tab ...
... or just by clicking the "new posts" tab at the top of the page. Or you can do search word for any other topic you might be interested in. We also have a recommended reading list for beginners:
One of our Sangha Buddhies can offer some guidance if you get lost:
We also have various practices and activities going on here:
But, really ... just keep sitting, read a little about Soto Practice, ignore the rest.
Gassho, Jundo
STLahLeave a comment:
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I've went through all beginner videos for the first time. This was a great opportunity to get bit size teachings of zazen! Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn from you. I've also have been digging deep into the podcast " The Zen of Everything" which has given me even more opportunity to learn from you Jundo.
The forum is vast, where do you suggest a beginner go from here?
Gassho,
Alicia
Sat todayLeave a comment:
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Greetings,
I can speak from my own personal experience to anyone struggling with pain during Zazen. I struggled with a lot of physical knee and back pain after military service. For me, when I also started a daily yoga practice, and eventually became a yoga teacher, I found that my Zazen also improved. My knee and back pain has become far less noticeable and now I can sit for much longer. Previously even 10 minutes was met with much pain. Now I can easily sit for an hour without much discomfort. I highly recommend either yoga, or anything that involves loosening the spine and stretching the body. It can be a tremendous supportive practice.
Gassho,
AnGyo
SatTodayLeave a comment:
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One can also sit Burmese style with a small bench. There are diagrams, suggestions on You Tube. I can't sit this away or on Zafu because of knee pain and Back pain and have purchased a straight back chair with arms but fork one who wishes more traditional style of sitting, Burmese may work.
Gassho
sat/lahLeave a comment:
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There is not good or bad Zazen. Zazen is always GOOD! ... both when it is good and clear and silent, and on those days when the mind is stormy and it is very very bad.There is no "good" or "bad" Zazen.
A key to Good Zazen is when we learn to sit in radical equanimity, leaping through "good vs. bad," yet with trust in our bones that this very moment of sitting Zazen is Good! just by sitting.
It is a very Good Koan!
Gassho, J
stlahLeave a comment:
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This reminded me of the koan about whether it was the flag or the wind that was moving, and it was the mind that was moving. Thank you Jundo, I saw that video like 10 years ago, but it is always nice to come back to these teachingsThe sound is vibrations from outside, but the interpretation and emotional reaction is between our ears. In fact, the vibrations from Suzuki Roshi's mouth via video are interpreted by my brain as Wisdom.
Gassho, Tomás
SatLeave a comment:
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Lovely. I am sure that you know Suzuki Roshi's little talks on sound and noise. The sound is vibrations from outside, but the interpretation and emotional reaction is between our ears.While doing Shikantaza, I suddenly realized that all of the noise that I was hearing in that moment was from my own internal monologue. All of the images, self-referential conversation and anxiety dropped away and I was just there, sitting on the zafu, with nothing but the experience of sitting. As a beginner, knowing that there is an internal radio of self-chat that is endless is one thing, but actually experiencing reality without being completely absorbed and enticed by it... gave me confidence in the practice
Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaH
In fact, the vibrations from Suzuki Roshi's mouth via video are interpreted by my brain as Wisdom.
Gassho, J
STLahLeave a comment:
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While doing Shikantaza, I suddenly realized that all of the noise that I was hearing in that moment was from my own internal monologue. All of the images, self-referential conversation and anxiety dropped away and I was just there, sitting on the zafu, with nothing but the experience of sitting. As a beginner, knowing that there is an internal radio of self-chat that is endless is one thing, but actually experiencing reality without being completely absorbed and enticed by it... gave me confidence in the practice
Gassho, Tomás
Sat&LaHLeave a comment:
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Hi Aimee,
If someone's life, health, finances, work and family duties can allow, it is highly recommended to go to an extended retreat that lasts for several days, three days, or even a week or so. Online is fine, but residential is really powerful ... getting up with the sun, long hours of Zazen, Oryoki eating, work and more Zazen! If health and such allows, it can be a powerful experience.
Our Rohatsu is great, especially for people who cannot do so. Or even for people who can do so, then do both!
Gassho, Jundo
STLahLeave a comment:
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Good morning, good day, good evening dear friends [emoji92]
To give my mind a quiet point of focus during Shikantaza I sometimes picture the entire cosmos in the egg-shaped space created by my hands. As with the blue sky and the mirror, this imagery brings moments of quiet to my mind. Is there any reason to not include that in my sitting practice?
...
In the beginner video number 14 about the 15 minute sit, there's a recommendation to attend a longer residential Sesshin each year. Is this recommendation for an actual in-person style retreat as opposed to our Rohatsu that is done from home?
If this recommendation is for old-school in person attendence, would it be best to find a soto Zen sangha or would the local mixed Zen center be okay?
Apologies for running long. I am making use of the exception given to beginners.
Gassho [emoji1374]
Aimee B.
sat lahLeave a comment:
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That is a very good video to introduce the Burmese. Thank you.
My only comments are:
- He does say that, before getting an actual Zafu, one may sit on pillows. That is usually not so good unless the pillows, or a blanket (like Kotei makes here: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...l=1#post280684) are tightly bound and supportive, because ordinary sofa or bed pillows are generally too squishy.
- The most important aspect of Burmese or any of the cross legged postures is getting the knees down to rest comfortably on the ground or Zabuton. Without that, there is strain on the body and the posture is unstable. It is also the most difficult aspect for many of us "thunder thighed" westerners, in my experience. Stretches and giving it time help, but it is hard for many foreigners to attain that nice, stable knee placement shown in the video without time and stretching and patience and, sometimes, losing a few pounds (it is just true.)
Gassho, J
STLahLeave a comment:
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For sitting with eyes open. This is possible when I sit because my eyes are not all the way open or closed, and I keep my eyes at about 1/4 open, and very occasional blinking is not bad but rather like straitening one's glasses. Not a problem.
Gassho
sat/lahLeave a comment:
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