Questions about Meditation and purchasing Buddhist items

[Patrick Fain]

I wonder about Meditation styles and forms of Buddhism. I have read books like "The miracle of mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hahn and "Zen mind beginners mind" by Suzuki. I have formed the belief that being in the present moment and dropping attachments is a major starting point. Also the teachings and writings of Buddhism are important though I don't study them alot.
Vipassana meditation seems to be more effective for me. Counting breaths, noticing thoughts without judgement. Mindfulness transforms any ordinary task into a more immersive one, more valuable and pliable. Shikantaza as I understand is sitting with whatever arises, just noticing and not following. Because whatever arises in the mind carries attachments, and is empty. This can lead me to feel a bit heartless though, cold to what's happening yet usually in the moment. I am in a way at a crossroads of what style of Buddhism I want to practice as well as what is more valuable to me, Vipassana or shikantaza. I've been told I should speak with a teacher several times.
If anyone has any input on this it would be great, also any info, YouTube videos or whatever that most closely relates to what I am asking/pondering. Thanks and good day

[Jundo]

Hi Patrick,

Buddhism and Buddhist meditation come in various styles. It is hard to say which is best for you. Here we practice Shikantaza, "Just Sitting" in radical equanimity, untangled from thoughts, emotions, judgements and opinions, letting thing be as they are for the time of sitting. Thoughts just come and go, and we do not jump on and go for a ride, tangle with them, stir them up. We sit with no need to fix or add, no need to be or go somewhere else during the time of sitting. It is good medicine for our constant human need to think, plan, judge, fear, regret, fix, weigh, chase after and be somewhere else!

Rather than "be in the present moment," I like to say "allowing the present moment to be this moment."

Then, after Zazen, we go back to a life of things to do and judge, places to be, plans and concerns. However, maybe they are not quite as before. Our ways of Shikantaza are summarized in our "We're All Beginners" short video talks ...

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/the-beginner-s-place/a-series-of-talks-for-new-folks

You should not feel "cold." That is you telling yourself that you feel "cold and heartless." This is your decision to feel this way between your ears and in your own heart. Instead, please experiment with sitting Shikantaza with a subtle and silent faith in your bones that "This is a shining jewel of sitting, this is a Buddha's sitting, I am sitting for all the world and all sentient beings filled with Wisdom and Compassion." Judging the experience of Shikantaza this way is what you make it in your own heart and what you allow yourself to feel it is.

We also recommend some books for beginners in Shikantaza Zazen and Soto Practice. The once with the stars ** are good for new folks (especially those in green color) ... starting with Opening the Hand of Thought.

https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/treeleaf/the-beginner-s-place/1029-suggested-books-media-on-zen-practice

If you would like to practice Vipassana instead, you will have to go to a VIpassana group and teacher. They are all parallel paths to the same "non-place."

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

PS - And if you have some question on "purchasing Buddhist items," the only item truly needed is a firm cushion to sit on (and even then, you can make one of those if you wish.) Nothing else is needed.

[Kokuu]

Shikantaza as I understand is sitting with whatever arises, just noticing and not following. Because whatever arises in the mind carries attachments, and is empty. This can lead me to feel a bit heartless though, cold to what's happening yet usually in the moment.

Everything may be empty but the Buddha was careful to note that does not mean non-existent and that we should ignore it. The Middle Way lies between existence and non-existence.

Likewise, we both avoid attachment and detachment.

It sounds like you might be veering a little towards one extreme which can feel cold.

Instead, I see emptiness as deep interconnectness and interbeing, which is totally alive and vibrant, and a moment-by-moment expression of all that is which is precious as it will never happen again.

While we do not cling to experience, we sit with open hands, and respond to whatever arises with gentleness as it arises and falls away.

That is not to say that you should choose Zen and Shikantaza as your path over Vipassana, which is also a fine practice, as that is entirely up to you, but in my experience Shikantaza comes with an openness to everything rather than a shutting off.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Onsho]

Hi Patrick,
I'm not a priest, just a pretty face.

If you have a copy of zen mind beginners mind, check out the chapter: Negative And Positive.

From my own experience, shikantaza is easy to understand, but hard to do in the beginning. If I may, I would like to share with you what did it for me. I thought of shikantaza as a verb. Its an action the body does. Yes, my mind is along for the ride trying to backseat drive. But I saw it as a physical performance. My mind cant properly speak to what my body and awareness is perceiving anyway. Any assessment of how its going to sit like this isn't really a part of the experience.

All that to say, be patient and your body will show you soon enough.

You were very wise to reach out to a teacher, there are some fantastic ones here, good luck!

Gassho
Onshō
satlah

[Patrick Fain]

I think my issues with Shikantaza may exist because I do not have a solid understanding of how to do it, as well as not a lot of experience. I believe I need to read more books on Soto Zen, and just in general learn more on the topics. I've started looking at the videos Jundo linked for me

[Tairin]

My advice is that you don’t spend too much time reading more Soto Zen books but to focus on Jundo’s excellent series of videos and try sitting for yourself. It is a practice that needs doing. You won’t learn how to swim by reading books on how to swim.


Tairin
sat today and lah