Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

[Tb]

Hi.
I've been reading "the three pillars of zen".
intereresting book.
One question it raised was is shikantaza a koanpractice.
I think so, but what do you think?

May the force be with you
Tb

[chicanobudista]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

One question it raised was is shikantaza a koanpractice.
I think so, but what do you think?

Can you ellaborate?

From my basic understanding of Zen Buddhism, koan practice relates to a very particular method.

[Stephanie]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

Is reality a koan?

Um, yes.

And doesn't the title of "Genjokoan" say as much?

[Tb]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

What does reality have to say on the matter?

Regards,

H.

A lot of nothing...

May the force be with you.
Tb

[Tb]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

One question it raised was is shikantaza a koanpractice.
I think so, but what do you think?

Can you ellaborate?

From my basic understanding of Zen Buddhism, koan practice relates to a very particular method.

Well, yes, you might say it does (and some may do), but that is like looking in the water and see a reflection, it misses the point...
During koanpractice you "meditate on a question" which is exactly what you do during shikantaza, the question being you.

May the force be with you
Tb

[Tb]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

Is reality a koan?

Hardly.

Regards,

Harry.

The question being WHAT is reality?

May the force be with you.
Tb

[will]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

You know. I used to be a lot better at Shikantaza before I started Zen.

G,W

[chicanobudista]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

During koanpractice you "meditate on a question" which is exactly what you do during shikantaza, the question being you.

But I have never asked.
And maybe you are right.
And maybe I am practicing too much sloppy Zen.
But.
Really. That's not why I do shikantaza.
To question "who is me" during shikantaza is to search for an object or at minimum distracting.
To ask that question, I don't need shikantaza.
IMHO.

[Eika]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

During koanpractice you "meditate on a question" which is exactly what you do during shikantaza, the question being you.

But I have never asked.
And maybe you are right.
And maybe I am practicing too much sloppy Zen.
But.
Really. That's not why I do shikantaza.
To question "who is me" during shikantaza is to search for an object or at minimum distracting.
To ask that question, I don't need shikantaza.
IMHO.

I think I agree with Erik. "Who am 'I'?" is a koan, but shikantaza is about not asking that question, but instead existing in life as it is without questioning it. Dropping the question gives us the answer. (BTW--I'm posting all kinds of crap lately that I never thought I would ever say...the last sentence is a prime example. Sounds uppity, but that's the truth as I see it. Zen is a strange thing). :|

Gassho,
Bill

[Dojin]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

shikantaza is just sitting.
koan is just koan.

in koan practice you sit with a question and try to become one with it untill you understand the question and you do not need the answer anymore, you dont need to search for it. you just know it, it is a part of you.

in shikantaza you just sit. no question, no answer, no you, no not you, no world, no emptiness, no nothing or anything.
just sit. a koan is ment to bring sudden realization and enlightenment, zazen is just sitting without the need for such things as enlightenment or not.

thats just my take on the subject of course

[Jundo]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

I am on my way back to Japan! Just a day or so more ...

And when I get there, I'll straighten out misguided beliefs, purge all heresies, shut down ideologically incorrect discussions, delete mention of unapproved books and burn many folks at the stake ... :twisted:

Gassho, Cardinal Jundo, Enforcer of Doctrinal Purity

[Stephanie]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

What does reality have to say on the matter?

Regards,

H.

An earwig crawled out of my box of dental floss this morning.

There's a special on banana puddin' milkshakes at Krystal.

[chicanobudista]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

What does reality have to say on the matter?

Regards,

H.

An earwig crawled out of my box of dental floss this morning.

There's a special on banana puddin' milkshakes at Krystal.

Yesterday, my nopalli was in full bloom.



I had no questions.

[Stephanie]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

I had some questions when that earwig crawled out of my dental floss, but I decided I was probably better off not to ask them... :shock:

[chicanobudista]

Re: Is shikantaza a koanpractice?

I had some questions when that earwig crawled out of my dental floss, but I decided I was probably better off not to ask them... :shock:

Earwig....do you have Buddha nature?