Stillness in Motion

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  • MalleableGirlParts
    Member
    • Jul 2024
    • 48

    Stillness in Motion

    Hi,

    Here I go again, flapping my virtual gums.

    I've been realizing recently that maybe one of the best gifts I've been getting from regular Zazen practice has been carrying over the stillness in body and mind to my daily activities. Of course it isn't all the time, but I do often find myself with a feeling of "floating" through my motions. I feel a lightness in my mind and body. Small, seemingly inconsequential objects become incredibly fascinating and they make me happy. So do the smallest movements, like lifting my hand to my face or turning a doorknob.

    I don't know. It's interesting and I thoroughly enjoy it. Granted, I've always leaned towards the tendency to study the little things. I enjoy the nitty gritty, the space between conversation or the pebble on the sidewalk.

    Another unexpected feeling is that I almost resent my breathing and heartbeat while sitting. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I look for perfect stillness and they get in the way. I become all too conscious of the motion my lungs and heart generate within the otherwise perfect stillness of my body. :-) I know, I know. I wouldn't be here without them. :-)

    Anyway, anybody else with thoughts on stillness in motion? Zen in Action!?
    Gasshō Jenn
    Sat Lah
  • Shinshi
    Treeleaf Unsui
    • Jul 2010
    • 3663

    #2
    Stillness in motion - Zen in Action: it is Running for me.

    Gassho, Shinshi

    SaT-LaH
    空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
    There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
    -Dogen
    E84I - JAJ

    Comment

    • Bion
      Treeleaf Unsui
      • Aug 2020
      • 4581

      #3
      Originally posted by MalleableGirlParts
      Hi,

      Here I go again, flapping my virtual gums.

      I've been realizing recently that maybe one of the best gifts I've been getting from regular Zazen practice has been carrying over the stillness in body and mind to my daily activities. Of course it isn't all the time, but I do often find myself with a feeling of "floating" through my motions. I feel a lightness in my mind and body. Small, seemingly inconsequential objects become incredibly fascinating and they make me happy. So do the smallest movements, like lifting my hand to my face or turning a doorknob.

      I don't know. It's interesting and I thoroughly enjoy it. Granted, I've always leaned towards the tendency to study the little things. I enjoy the nitty gritty, the space between conversation or the pebble on the sidewalk.

      Another unexpected feeling is that I almost resent my breathing and heartbeat while sitting. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I look for perfect stillness and they get in the way. I become all too conscious of the motion my lungs and heart generate within the otherwise perfect stillness of my body. :-) I know, I know. I wouldn't be here without them. :-)

      Anyway, anybody else with thoughts on stillness in motion? Zen in Action!?
      There was a time years ago, when I went through a patch of just struggling with the breath... For whatever reason I'd become so hyper-focused on it that I would slightly panic, feeling like I wasn't getting enough air. Funny to remember now as I empathise with you in a way. I love our shared experiences.

      On a personal note, I think zazen is absolutely like a journey in the dark to an unknown land, with no map. Every moment of zazen is brand new, unique and filled with not-knowing. I can't ever predict what it'll be like, nor can I trust that what I made it into with thinking is true. Sometimes it's wandering thoughts, sadness, panick, other times itches, breath, bliss, insight or simply nothing. To return to it again and again is to uncover it as brand new every time! I truly believe the experience of "playing" like that in just unhindered awareness, in zazen, is something we carry with us off the cushion after a while!
      Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

      Gassho
      sat lah
      "Stepping back with open hands, is thoroughly comprehending life and death. Immediately you can sparkle and respond to the world." - Hongzhi

      Comment

      • MalleableGirlParts
        Member
        • Jul 2024
        • 48

        #4
        Originally posted by Shinshi
        Stillness in motion - Zen in Action: it is Running for me.

        Gassho, Shinshi

        SaT-LaH
        I love it!
        Gasshō Jenn
        Sat Lah

        Comment

        • MalleableGirlParts
          Member
          • Jul 2024
          • 48

          #5
          Originally posted by Bion

          There was a time years ago, when I went through a patch of just struggling with the breath... For whatever reason I'd become so hyper-focused on it that I would slightly panic, feeling like I wasn't getting enough air. Funny to remember now as I empathise with you in a way. I love our shared experiences.

          On a personal note, I think zazen is absolutely like a journey in the dark to an unknown land, with no map. Every moment of zazen is brand new, unique and filled with not-knowing. I can't ever predict what it'll be like, nor can I trust that what I made it into with thinking is true. Sometimes it's wandering thoughts, sadness, panick, other times itches, breath, bliss, insight or simply nothing. To return to it again and again is to uncover it as brand new every time! I truly believe the experience of "playing" like that in just unhindered awareness, in zazen, is something we carry with us off the cushion after a while!
          Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

          Gassho
          sat lah
          Hi!

          Thank you for sharing! I haven't felt like I wasn't getting breath, thankfully!

          Yes, it's slightly strange to think that I almost have no idea how my sit will go every time I do it. I think that sometimes I'm afraid to do a scheduled sit because I don't know if I can do the half-hour. I mean, I know I CAN, but maybe not at that time. It's been more than once that 12 minutes go by and I'm thinking "ring the bell!!". :-0 I know that sometimes it comes easily, but other times I'll have back pain or I'll get anxious. Honestly I'm afraid I will struggle through the sit and I suppose I have a difficult time doing things unless I'm confident I CAN. Something to work through...
          Gasshō Jenn
          Sat Lah

          Comment

          • Bion
            Treeleaf Unsui
            • Aug 2020
            • 4581

            #6
            Originally posted by MalleableGirlParts

            Hi!

            Thank you for sharing! I haven't felt like I wasn't getting breath, thankfully!

            Yes, it's slightly strange to think that I almost have no idea how my sit will go every time I do it. I think that sometimes I'm afraid to do a scheduled sit because I don't know if I can do the half-hour. I mean, I know I CAN, but maybe not at that time. It's been more than once that 12 minutes go by and I'm thinking "ring the bell!!". :-0 I know that sometimes it comes easily, but other times I'll have back pain or I'll get anxious. Honestly I'm afraid I will struggle through the sit and I suppose I have a difficult time doing things unless I'm confident I CAN. Something to work through...
            I hear you! I think we've all gone through the "ring the bell already!" experience more than once! I still go through itt, especially with longer sits. My approach to this is to sit and let whatever happens happen and deal with it when it does, not before it exists. Let me also say, there is a whole aspect of support in sitting WITH folks, in knowing the whole group is engaged in zazen, that everyone comes with their own little battles, struggles and limitations, and we start and finish together.

            Gassho
            sat lah
            "Stepping back with open hands, is thoroughly comprehending life and death. Immediately you can sparkle and respond to the world." - Hongzhi

            Comment

            • Jundo
              Treeleaf Founder and Priest
              • Apr 2006
              • 40363

              #7
              If obsessing on breathing, heartbeat or many things and problems in life ... then they are an obstacle.

              If we just let them be, and do not obsess on breathing, heartbeat or many things and problems in life ... then they are no obstacle. So, just leave them be, and do not obsess.

              If you struggle through a sitting, then it is a struggle. If one just let's the sitting flow as the sitting, there is no struggle.

              The obsession and struggle are both largely between your own two ears.

              Also, the feeling of "floating" through motions, or that something is incredibly fascinating like turning a doorknob, are all wonderful and fruits of Zazen. But they need not be all the time, or even most or much of the time. Sometimes "float through motions" or be fascinated by the smallest things ... other times, just get on with things, bump along, and just open the door.

              Gassho, Jundo
              stlah

              Last edited by Jundo; 09-30-2024, 02:25 AM.
              ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

              Comment

              • Rich
                Member
                • Apr 2009
                • 2614

                #8
                If i recorded every thought and feeling while sitting some may say this guy is a train wreck. Always been good at creating suffering. So today i met my new doctor and was nervous until i walked in the door. Then as i started interacting with the staff and doctor i noticed the stillness. I think that’s the residue of all the sitting in this lifetime

                sat/lah
                _/_
                Rich
                MUHYO
                無 (MU, Emptiness) and 氷 (HYO, Ice) ... Emptiness Ice ...

                https://instagram.com/notmovingmind

                Comment

                • Jundo
                  Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                  • Apr 2006
                  • 40363

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Rich
                  If i recorded every thought and feeling while sitting some may say this guy is a train wreck. Always been good at creating suffering. So today i met my new doctor and was nervous until i walked in the door. Then as i started interacting with the staff and doctor i noticed the stillness. I think that’s the residue of all the sitting in this lifetime

                  sat/lah
                  ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                  Comment

                  • MalleableGirlParts
                    Member
                    • Jul 2024
                    • 48

                    #10
                    Thank you everybody for your responses! That stillness is a wonderful feeling. I don't get it all the time, but am thankful when I do. I'm so incredibly grateful that I'm still very much always looking forward to sitting. It's becoming a true part of my daily life and it feels necessary now. It's beginning to feel like brushing my teeth or putting on my seatbelt...things feel off if I neglect it.
                    Gasshō Jenn
                    Sat Lah

                    Comment

                    • ZenJay
                      Member
                      • Apr 2024
                      • 166

                      #11
                      A few days ago I had to do a walkthrough of a school who asked my paranormal group to check into some strange activity happening there. I was walking around with about 12 teachers and we were standing in one of the classrooms. I began to sweep the class with my electromagnetic field detector when suddenly “BOOM!”- something slammed into the door that connects to the next classroom. Every teacher with me screamed and jumped, and then proceeded to run away. I didn’t even flinch! I was surprised by how calm I remained throughout the whole scene. Normally I know I would have at least jumped at the sound, but I found myself just accepting everything as it came a little more with ease… it was actually confusing at first, but quickly and pleasantly surprising as well! I felt like the eye of a storm that was raging around me. Practice has made me calmer, less reactive, and more at ease in life… Once everyone settled down, we quickly discovered that one of the teachers had snuck next door and thrown a doll at the door. Gotta love “spooky season”

                      Gassho,
                      Jay

                      Sat/lah today
                      Last edited by ZenJay; 10-08-2024, 09:42 AM.

                      Comment

                      • Hoko
                        Member
                        • Aug 2009
                        • 457

                        #12
                        I have been fighting a stomach bug the last few days which has made my IBS flare up.
                        So, on Saturday night I sat right after dinner and my insides were making a lot of noise.
                        It sounded like a pod of whales singing to each other!
                        Then, halfway into my sit, the snooze function expired on my security system so I started getting alerts on my phone as members of my family moved about the house setting off the motion detectors.
                        So now I had R2-D2 beeping and blooping from the floor off to my left where I had set my phone down.
                        Then, my older two sons met in the kitchen and started showing each other videos on their phones and laughing and talking in their loud, booming voices (they're in college now).
                        They were being so loud that I could hear them through the walls from all the way across the house!
                        And my left nostril was clogged so I was making a whistling noise out of my right one...
                        So, naturally enough, frustration began to arise, because, after all, a little peace and quiet now and then would be nice!

                        BUT...
                        The singing whales and the beeping droids and the laughing boys and the whistling nostrils and the frustrated old curmudgeon all sat together in stillness anyway.
                        The end/no end

                        Gassho,
                        Hoko
                        ST/LAH
                        法 Dharma
                        口 Mouth

                        Comment

                        • Jundo
                          Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                          • Apr 2006
                          • 40363

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Hoko
                          BUT...
                          The singing whales and the beeping droids and the laughing boys and the whistling nostrils and the frustrated old curmudgeon all sat together in stillness anyway.
                          The end/no end


                          ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                          Comment

                          • Susan Warren
                            Member
                            • Apr 2024
                            • 1

                            #14
                            I enjoyed this thread, thought about it as I sat this morning, hearing the sounds from the lobby of our apartment building as people left for school and work - just hanging out with what is happening, smiling!

                            Comment

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