Zazen for Beginners Series: THREAD for QUESTIONS, COMMENTS

[Tomás ESP]

Thank you very much for your input Bokugan (beautiful Dharma name by the way, loved the story you shared on the forum about it).

And Jundo, what you share resonates so much with me. Embracing all of it. I can feel you love life in a deep and meaningful way, with all its nuts and bolts. This is what I aspire to, not to make Samsara into Nirvana, but to recognize that Samsara is already Nirvana (just to take up the classical formula), to really live deeply. Really grateful for your sharings

Gassho, Tomás
Sat

[Tai Shi]

I'm happy for your appreciation of music, a way of speaking quite beautiful. I have been a lover of music since grade school, sure people who play musical instruments feel deeply about music. I remember when our 5th grade class went to a concert, how I was swept up in The New World Symphony. Dogen must have had musical appreciation.
Gassho
sat/ lah

[Beautyseeker2224]

Jundo, your comment about how "somedays we will have bad days of zazen and somedays we will have good ones, but it is still zazen." Really hit home for me. In many areas of my life, I have been waiting for perfection in order to start. I realize that things can never be perfect . Thank you for all that you do.
Floyd
ST

[Jundo]

Jundo, your comment about how "somedays we will have bad days of zazen and somedays we will have good ones, but it is still zazen." Really hit home for me. In many areas of my life, I have been waiting for perfection in order to start. I realize that things can never be perfect . Thank you for all that you do.
Floyd
ST

In our practice we leap through human subjective judgements and dichotomies of "good vs. bad" "perfect vs, imperfect" and all measure of "flaws" ...

... and thus discover a kind of Big P Perfection that shines right through all human times of good or bad, perfection and imperfection. It is kind of a light which shines even through the flaws. The bad days remain, the problems of life remain ... but so does the light.

Gassho, J

STLah

[DGF]

hello Jundo Sensei,

thank you for the lesson, it is really helpfull.
i have a question I betray meself that my eyes are moving more to chest level height after a while. when i realize this i correct them. are there any focus points or is that not a problem?

Thank you,

Diana
*SatToDAy*

[Jundo]

hello Jundo Sensei,

thank you for the lesson, it is really helpfull.
i have a question I betray meself that my eyes are moving more to chest level height after a while. when i realize this i correct them. are there any focus points or is that not a problem?

Thank you,

Diana
*SatToDAy*

Hi Diana,

The eyes may travel in their ordinary way, not fixated, resting here and resting there. I compare it to normal vision when driving a car. No need to do anything strange with the eyes. Generally, we are looking about 45 degrees downward, looking down toward the floor or at an open wall, but not trying to be so precise about it.

The only difference from normal vision is that we don't think much ABOUT what we might see. Here is what I usually say on this:

I just sit, looking out through my half open eyes, no differently than if I were sitting at my kitchen table looking at the room or driving a car looking at the road. If looking at the wall, I am just looking as if looking at any scenery. Normal vision, but I just am not particularly thinking about, pondering or concentrating on what I am seeing. I describe it as "staring at everything and nothing in particular". My eyes take in the room or the floor or wall quiet naturally, but I do not latch onto anything mentally to think about what I am seeing. For example, my eyes may rest on a chair or on some spots on the wall, but I just do not get lost in thoughts such as "ugly chair, need to go chair shopping" or "those dots look just like a giraffe"

My focus just wanders from point to point to point quite naturally, resting where they rest, on this or that, then moving on when they move on.

What a room looks like before Zazen ...

What the room looks like during Zazen (but just not thinking particularly thoughts like "ugly sofa, nice chair, wish I were outside, need to clean this dirty floor ... "

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[DGF]

Thank you very much Jundo Sensei


Diana
SatToDay

[Tomás ESP]

Re-visited the beginners section, one lesson a day. Really worth re-watching if your practice is shaky (or not!)

Gassho, Tomás
Sat

[DGF]

goodmorning/day/evening,

maybe i missed it while searching my way in this school, when do i have to Start Zazen online or Zazenkai? is it after all the beginners series?


SatToday
Diana

[Bion]

goodmorning/day/evening,

maybe i missed it while searching my way in this school, when do i have to Start Zazen online or Zazenkai? is it after all the beginners series?


SatToday
Diana

Oh no! You can join at any time, Diana! Just look at the NOW page and join whatever scheduled sit you wish!! Please do! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Jundo]

goodmorning/day/evening,

maybe i missed it while searching my way in this school, when do i have to Start Zazen online or Zazenkai? is it after all the beginners series?


SatToday
Diana

And you do not "have to," although it is strongly encouraged. It is just wonderful to sit with other folks as a group.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[DGF]

Thank you sensei and Bion, as soon i finished the beginners series i like to sit with others.

Gassho
Diana
SaToDay

[Bion]

Thank you sensei and Bion, as soon i finished the beginners series i like to sit with others.

Gassho
Diana
SaToDay

Find a scheduled sitting that works for you and the next time you sit, just go to the Free Sitting Room ( I believe that is a good habit to develop, truly [emoji1]) cause you never know who might already be there sitting or who might come in while you sit and offer you company and also have the lovely surprise of receiving your company.

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[DGF]

hello everyone,

i wanted to share something i dont really know where to post it,
i had a very nice Zazen. while just sitting, something popped up i kept it a side for later. so now

this came up:

you dont have to be on a mountain,to be on a mountain!

Gassho,
Diana
SaTTODay

[Bokugan]

hello everyone,

i wanted to share something i dont really know where to post it,
i had a very nice Zazen. while just sitting, something popped up i kept it a side for later. so now

this came up:

you dont have to be on a mountain,to be on a mountain!

Gassho,
Diana
SaTTODay

Wonderful insight!

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday