Oh, those big questions !

[Ugrok]

Hi !

Once again i'm in a deep "questioning existence" phase. Wondering how to deal with it skillfully. For example when i sit and i see my attention wandering, and i come back to just sitting, i wonder "how the heck did i do that?" And i cannot answer... what follows is "what is consciousness"? "Who controls my attention" ? "What is all of this i'm experiencing right now? " Etc etc. And, finding, of course, no answer, i feel anxious.

What is a good way to deal with this kind of stuff?

Gassho,
Uggy
Sattoday

[Diarmuid1]

Finding no answer seems to be the best answer to (not) find.

It is good to ask lots of questions and find few answers. It builds up your doubt and points the way to your anxiety.

Pity the poor souls who think they have an answer to every question that there is. It doesn't take a buddha to spot the suffering that is rolling towards them.

[Jishin]

Me thinks that without anxiety we don't run away from the tooth saber tiger and die!!

We are just wired to be anxious!!

No worries, it's just the way it is!!

[emoji4]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jundo]

i wonder "how the heck did i do that?" And i cannot answer... what follows is "what is consciousness"? "Who controls my attention" ? "What is all of this i'm experiencing right now? " Etc etc. And, finding, of course, no answer, i feel anxious.

What is a good way to deal with this kind of stuff?

Hi Uggy,

Wonderful questions, perhaps, for bed before falling asleep or in a philosophy classroom ... but totally inappropriate for during Zazen. Just put the questions aside, drop the search for answers, and simply return to the breath or posture (open awareness may not be sufficient for you now as you need a firmer anchor).

Would I be wrong to say that this may not be the first time that you have expressed some fear regarding the experience of loss of "self" or loss of control? You are overly worried about nothing really. There is some similarity to my young daughter who was terrified to jump into the pool the first few times, and now we can't get her out! The water is nice, and you will float, jump on in!

I notice your avatar picture appears to be you in ski clothes. When you ski, do you worry on the way down about "what is consciousness and who is experiencing this right now", or do you just ski? Same with Zazen. (Heck, I am so tense the few times I have been on skiis, I can relate to your feeling!)

Anyway, drop the questions and the search and just ski ... I mean, Just Sit!

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Ugrok]

Thank you very much, Jundo. Indeed i cross those questions again and again in my life...

Gassho,
Uggy
Sat today

[Jundo]

PS - By the way, if you want to deal with some BIG question that the universe cannot settle ... Hokey Pokey or Disco Duck? SPEAK!

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?15284-is-posting-in-old-threads-considered-a-faux-pas&p=198755&viewfull=1#post198755

That should scare the heck out of you!!

But, please, don't think about this question either DURING Zazen!

[Jundo]

In French, for you ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuTnPnsWQHs

I think that is Johhny Hallyday ...

[Jundo]

Yes, there is a French language Disco Duck ... by Paul Vincent, the Rick Dees of France ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30J1-0qiF0

Like most things, it sounds better in French ... although just a little.

[Ugrok]

I'll go with disco duck, of course !

Gassho,
Uggy
Sat today

[Seishin]

To help my understanding of French I have around 700 Johnny Halliday recordings. I soppose my Big Question is does the collection contain L'Okey Pokey. And why is it Hokey Cokey for us Brits. Much to ponder.

[Enso]

Just open the clenched fist in your mind and let go and fall into the midst of everything.

Gassho,
Enso
Sat today

[Jundo]

Just open the clenched fist in your mind and let go and fall into the midst of everything.

Gassho,
Enso
Sat today

Lovely! One Hokey Pokey in Dutch for you ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZRswnE4f4M

Gassho, Jundo

Sat Today

[Jyukatsu]

LOL......Hokey Pokey in Dutch; you are full of surprises Jundo

Gassho,
Jyūkatsu
sat today

[Kaishin]

Hi !

Once again i'm in a deep "questioning existence" phase. Wondering how to deal with it skillfully. For example when i sit and i see my attention wandering, and i come back to just sitting, i wonder "how the heck did i do that?" And i cannot answer... what follows is "what is consciousness"? "Who controls my attention" ? "What is all of this i'm experiencing right now? " Etc etc. And, finding, of course, no answer, i feel anxious.

What is a good way to deal with this kind of stuff?

Gassho,
Uggy
Sattoday

I get it, I fall into those traps from time to time: they say "well just open the hand of thought" -- but what the hell is it that does the opening!? How can we let go when what does the letting go is what we need to let go?! :P those sorts of tail-chasing questions.

-satToday

[Ugrok]

I get it, I fall into those traps from time to time: they say "well just open the hand of thought" -- but what the hell is it that does the opening!? How can we let go when what does the letting go is what we need to let go?! :P those sorts of tail-chasing questions.

-satToday

Hahah, yeah, EXACTLY !

Gassho,

Uggy
Sat Today