I meditate every day, now what?

[Jundo]

One more little comment on the title of the thread ...

I meditate every day, now what?

I always like to remind people that many Soto folks (not always, but a lot) like to say that "Shikantaza Zazen is NOT "meditation." " In Meditation, we are trying to do or get something .... get enlightened, just relax, have visions, get more focused and concentrated, etc. etc.

In Shikantaza, we sit while radically dropping all ulterior motives, any goal to get or obtain. We sit with a subtle feeling and trust, deep in the bones, that sitting itself is complete, that there is nothing more to desire, with no other place to be and nothing to do but sit for sitting's sake, with each moment of sitting a Buddha sitting.

Now, funny thing, counter-intuitive ... dropping all those goals and judgements might actually help ya get a bit relaxed, focused ... even enlightened!

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shokai]

Hi Ester;
Thank you for your practice! Aside from just sitting (and you do that well, Thanks for every day you sit with us) may I suggest you take a look under "practices) for the 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination. It may resonate with you to use it as a method of Deepening your practice. But, don't let me deter you from all the good stuff you are doing

gassho, Shokai

[Onsho]

Hey Jen

A quick thought for consideration, instead of doing more things deliberately, considering loosening your grip on other things deliberately.

Gassho
Onshō
satlah

[Ester]

Hi Ester;
Thank you for your practice! Aside from just sitting (and you do that well, Thanks for every day you sit with us) may I suggest you take a look under "practices) for the 108 Gates of Dharma Illumination. It may resonate with you to use it as a method of Deepening your practice. But, don't let me deter you from all the good stuff you are doing

gassho, Shokai

Thanks!!
I'm looking at it right away
Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Onki]

This must be an exhausted topic, but maybe I haven't yet heard an answer in a way that quite resonated.

So I do meditate every day and that was certainly a goal in the beginning, but I feel that I'm waning. I don't attend anything in person due to time and inconvenience. And I'm not sure I'm growing in my practice. I want to implement more concrete experience in my life.

I do read what I can, but I don't necessarily feel like it's "studying" and helping my mindset. Maybe that's my failing in how I'm looking at these readings, but I'm looking for more "steps" in a sense. Not necessarily some Buddhist order of operations, but more of reminders of behavior.

I have decided to make a hand drawn/written page of the sixteen precepts to hang somewhere, but I'm wondering if there are creative ways that others use to remind themselves of their path?

Anyway, thanks in advance!

Hi Jenn,

Oh wow does this post speak to me!

As I began sitting Zazen regularly, I felt like it wasn’t enough. I was constantly searching for the next book, the next podcast, the next website, the next app…I even went so far as to try and emulate a monk’s life in a monastery. There were times where I would say OUT LOUD “JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO! SHOW ME WHAT TO DO!” Surely these things would give me everything that I wanted and needed to continue on with my practice.

They didn’t.

After all these years I think I have figured it out…

Stop looking. Just be here. Right now.

There is no special book, app, or podcast. Your practice is YOUR practice which includes everything: all your daily activities, interactions, choices.

I could have saved myself a lot of time had I realized this sooner. But that’s how I learn. I have to be the one to discover it for myself.

I hope this helps.

Gasshō,

On