About keeping "One mind"

[Gyoshin]

Hey everyone!
The Rinzai lineage (especially in Korea and China) puts a strong emphasis on "always keeping One mind", what I suppose Nishijima Roshi called "keeping the balanced state". The Linji tradition has techniques such as the 'hua tou/hwadu' that helps them in keeping this One mind through the cultivation of the so-called 'Great Doubt', but in our Soto tradition how do we keep that state outside seated meditation? I think Tenzo Kyokun suggests that in everything we do we should keep the same mental posture that we manifest in zazen, but it is a little bit confusing. Any tips, suggestions or practical advice?
Thank you

Gassho

sat/LaH

[Jundo]

Hi Gyoshin.

It is a good question. I believe that they are the same, in which the feeling of separation and division, frictions and tensions, is replaced by a sense of "flowing Wholeness" in which the divisions and frictions (including the self/other divide) softens or falls away. It is a kind of samadhi of varying depths.

However, a few cautions are in order.

First, our method in Soto Zen is Shikantaza Zazen, Just Sitting untangled from thoughts and in profound equanimity, plus other practices ranging from Samu work practice to Oryoki eating, chanting in ceremonies and such. The "Great Doubt" of the Koan Introspection "Huatou" (Head Word) method is like dynamite which can cause an opening, but also is too intense and goal oriented in my feeling. Our way is like mist which sinks deep to the marrow of the bones. However, the ultimate realization that is freeing of the self/other divide is the same. I think that "one mind" means more "mind that sees through divisions, not one nor two" mind (because that word "oneness" is actually an obstacle of sorts).

Now, when these old masters speak of "always," frankly, i do not think that either realistic or practical for most human beings I know. Nor would I want that in most of my life frankly. However, I am gifted to have that ability to access such mind almost any time, when I want. Thus, I think that realistically, this "always keep one mind, etc." is like "always look both ways when crossing the street" or "always be kind" or "always pay attention." It is something we should ... and can ... do when appropriate, but there is no reason to be that way literally always. (Even Nishijima Roshi said that the "balanced state" works subtly in the bones sometimes, even when we are not always consciously aware of it. I think that true.)

I will give you an example from my own life this week.

I had bad bronchitis, so had an x-ray this week. My doctor spotted a shadow on my x-ray right next to where my cancer surgery was a few years ago. He was like, "Hmmm ... what's that, hmmm ... that could be concerning, hmmmm .... better get a CAT scan, hmmmm." For a moment, quite naturally, the primitive part of my brain went to attention, I thought "here we go again," and fear arose. HOWEVER, very quickly, I could reach for the "tool belt" of "Flowing Wholeness" and it became okay again.

This being Japan, the doctor had the CAT scan in the next room ... no waiting (cost me about $40 by the way ) ... and 30 minutes later we had the results. All during, including in the machine, I was in a nice "Flowing Wholeness" placeless place. No problem, whatever the result.

Those life situations are our place of practice too, Gyoshin, not only Zazen or Oryoki eating. In fact, CAT scans are Zazen in motion,

Fortunately, all was okay (except I was $40 poorer), and I could return to being the usual ass I am for awhile longer on this planet. No problem. "One Mind" was returned to my pocket.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

PS - Bronchitis now 95% better.

[Bion]

Gyo, I really want to add something else practical here, of a different nature, to accompany Jundo's response to you.

Monastic training and practice by their nature nurture this unified mind, so everyone can pick up tips and tricks from some of the practices of monks and nuns, and use them as exercises, as you seem to want to do.

For example, the Buddha instructed the monks to be well restrained when walking or sitting in public, and to keep their eyes lowered. Have you ever tried walking without looking around at everything and getting distracted? It is an interesting exercise, and in a matter of three minutes one understands just how poorly we do at being present and attentive and how non-judgmental we become when we don't feed the critical, discriminatory mind.

A friend of mine once told a story about his time in a Sōtō training monastery. For a period, he was asked to do everything with two hands—grasp and handle things with two hands, open doors with two hands, and so on. That, too, is meant to train one’s awareness.

In the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, the Buddha teaches the monks about unified mind and dignified behavior, and I think the two go hand in hand. We have a similar saying in Sōtō Zen: dignified behavior is itself the Buddhadharma.

In explaining what he meant, the Buddha clarified: “Whatever one should do, one should know how to do it. Whatever one should stop, one should know how to stop. Looking around to the right and left, bending forward and stretching back, looking downward and upward, holding the robe and alms bowl—you should not lose the dignified manner.”

In the context of daily life for a lay practitioner, this can also be useful. It is the Nyoho way as well: to know what is appropriate at all times, especially in terms of quantity, size, and material. This can be applied to most things in life: How much food am I serving? What am I putting into my body? How much of anything do I yearn for, and why? This is also an expression of awakening, responding to life appropriately, know when up is up and down is down.

Just thought I'd throw this your way, cause I assume you're on a quest for some tips and tools.

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

For example, the Buddha instructed the monks to be well restrained when walking or sitting in public, and to keep their eyes lowered. Have you ever tried walking without looking around at everything and getting distracted? It is an interesting exercise, and in a matter of three minutes one understands just how poorly we do at being present and attentive and how non-judgmental we become when we don't feed the critical, discriminatory mind.

This reminds me of the time that I undertook an exercise like this ... centered on each step one by one, the breath, past and future forgotten, deeply centered ...

... so much so that I walked right into a table.

Took about two weeks for the bruise to heal.

We can be so mindful and "in the moment" that we walk right off a cliff.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Ryumon]

The Alexander Technique is a way of being mindful of your physical body (that's on oversimplification for the purposes of this post). I was told by an Alexander teacher that when many students start training to be teachers, they try to be mindful all the time and do the kind of thing Jundo mentioned. The term for them is Alexandroids.

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

Sat Lah