Zazen and driving

[Ryumon]

This is from the recent book by Kosho Uchiyama, The Sound that Perceives the World:

”To use an example closer to home, it is dangerous to drive a car when you're preoccupied or upset. Also, drunk driving or falling asleep at the wheel is perilous. Don't drive like this but drive while first letting go of the hand of thought; you can't fall asleep, but you need to become fully awake, take in the scene moment by moment; all the places you come across are all the selt, driving is at hand, flowing past. As long as you drive past these scenes, just as they are passing by you, if you take all of this as the self, you will drive safely. This is seeing. That is, "seeing the sounds of the world" is the essential attitude you should take when safely "driving" your life.”

I think this metaphor of driving, seeing things pass you by but not grasping them, is an excellent metaphor for doing zazen.

Gassho, Ryūmon (Kirk) Sat Lah

[Jundo]

This is from the recent book by Kosho Uchiyama, The Sound that Perceives the World:

”To use an example closer to home, it is dangerous to drive a car when you're preoccupied or upset. Also, drunk driving or falling asleep at the wheel is perilous. Don't drive like this but drive while first letting go of the hand of thought; you can't fall asleep, but you need to become fully awake, take in the scene moment by moment; all the places you come across are all the selt, driving is at hand, flowing past. As long as you drive past these scenes, just as they are passing by you, if you take all of this as the self, you will drive safely. This is seeing. That is, "seeing the sounds of the world" is the essential attitude you should take when safely "driving" your life.”

I think this metaphor of driving, seeing things pass you by but not grasping them, is an excellent metaphor for doing zazen.

Gassho, Ryūmon (Kirk) Sat Lah

I agree. Some driving can very much resemble or embody Zazen ...

Drivin' Dogen - Understanding "Open Spacious Awareness"
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... I can describe the experience as something like driving a car, radio off, down an empty highway or quiet country road, not particularly thinking anything yet attentive. I sometimes see everything out in front of me, or maybe notice this or that as it passes. I am not particularly thinking anything, and the mind is clear, alert, just watching the road. I am not daydreaming, I am not sleeping, I am alert and paying awake attention -- but to no one thing in particular. I may notice briefly some things as I pass ... mail box, cow, pretty house, laundry on a line ... but I don't really think about them, and I let them pass from view and keep going with eyes observing everything and nothing.

Just like driving, it is okay to see objects that are sometimes appearing through the windshield, but just don't get lost in trains of thought about them that will distract you from attention to the road ("Oh a mail box, I wish I had a mail box like that, it is a beautiful mailbox compared to my ugly mailbox at home, stamps are too expensive, too many bills in my mailbox and my job is a pain, reminds me that I need to go shopping, I will buy eggs too ... "). If seeing the mailbox ... it is just a mailbox, and don't particularly think about it or judge it ... neither beautiful or ugly mailbox ... it is just a mailbox. Maybe don't even think about its "mailbox" name at all, and let it just be some thing in view. Repeat as other things and sounds etc. come to the attention. Return your attention to the road. (I suppose that the wall or room in front of us as we sit Zazen is the windscreen). ...

MORE HERE: https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tea...ious-awareness

I think that Uchiyama Roshi probably stole his essay from me!

Gassho, J
stlah

[Nick L]

What has been most noticeable for me when I try to apply my practice on the cushion to my practice behind the steering wheel, is my increased patience with other drivers that normally would’ve angered me. Also works while walking in crowded spaces.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ryumon and Jundo .

Gassho
Nick
sattoday/lah

[Seiko]

Oh. Depends if you have a licence and the mental and physical capability to drive.

Me driving a car would likely end very quickly, in chaos and disaster. I can drive a cushion.

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah

[Ryūdō-Liúdào]

Zipping through crowded streets of Bali, wife n daughter on the back of our little motorbike... Let's just say, like Nick L, I'm very grateful for the patience, self-awareness, and compassion that my practice has given me!

Gasshō,
流道-Ryūdō-Liúdào
Satlah