"Warm-ups" to Zazen?

[Rakurei]

Hello, everyone -

I hope the retreat was refreshing for all!

So, I'm rather new to Zazen (and vow to keep my beginner mind!) - however, I'm not that new to meditation as a whole. When I would sit Vipassana, I was able to sit "better" after chanting a few rounds of japa.

While traditionally, I know there isn't much of a warm-up to Zazen, just sit! - I'm curious if anyone else has a warm-up or personal ritual that leads to more clear sitting sessions. Maybe something that gets them more "in the zone" - something as simple as lighting a candle? Or as intense as walking on a bed of nails while chanting to Green Tara? Curious to know.

Gassho,

Tyler

[Rich]

I wouldn't say that my warmup necessarily leads to better sitting but I do chant sometimes

SAT today

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[Amelia]

An ideal sitting ritual for me would be like this: tea or coffee, yoga, chant the verse of the kesa and put on the rakusu, bow, light the incense, and sit! However, time sometimes only allows for just sitting, wherever I happen to find the moment. I like to be open to zazen at any time. If I were to become to accustomed to a whole series of actions beforehand, I might not sit as often, or I might be unable to let my mind rest at a moment's notice, perhaps in a busy or loud space.

Gassho, sat today, lah

[Joyo]

I wouldn't say that my warmup necessarily leads to better sitting but I do chant sometimes

SAT today

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Me too.

It is fine to have a warm-up, but I would say, please don't become attached to that warm-up. What if your day is full of distractions etc. etc. and you are unable to have that warm-up before zazen? Do you not sit zazen then? It's ok to come to the cushion feeling frazzled, tired from the day, and the mind being full of thoughts. At least for me, this is where my practice meets the road, learning how to sit with all, learning how to sit without having the time to have a warm-up and just being in that moment right there.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today/lah

[Mp]

Hello Tyler,

Typically folks would chant the robe verse if they have a rakusu or kesa and they also may chant the Heart Sutra before sitting. In Shikantaza there is no "in the zone" or place to get to or obtain, sitting is just sitting. Sometimes folks do have moments at the beginning where their body and mind needs that settling in period, but that is normal and it finds that space naturally through sitting. =)

If you need them, here are some of our chants and also our chant book: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...t-Book-is-Here

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday/LAH

[Jishin]

"Warm-ups" to Zazen?

My warm up is this:

Alarm goes off at 530. I drink two 5 hour energy drinks that I have ready by my night stand. Then I begin to read. Look at my schedule for the day, read the forum and maybe post something and read the news. I am nice and warmed up by about 6 to 630 am and then sit. Weekends are a little differen in that I get up a little later and may do something with the family first.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Eishuu]

I don't have any kind of warm up at all. I usually sit before breakfast, before I've really started to do anything else. It's more that Zazen is my preparation for the day.

Gassho
Lucy
ST

[Taiyo]

I don't have any kind of warm up at all. I usually sit before breakfast, before I've really started to do anything else. It's more that Zazen is my preparation for the day.

Gassho
Lucy
ST

Ditto. I also sit first thing in the morning, before breakfast or anything else. More like Zazen is the "warm-up" for the day

Gassho,
Taiyo

SatTodayLAH

[Jundo]

Hi Tyler,

As folks have said, one can do many things before or after to put one in mood, or set the moment of sitting a bit apart, much as we might light incense or have a little Altar (some do, some need not) to create a special place and atmosphere.

But when the bell rings and the sitting begins, there is nothing before or after (not even present), there is nothing lacking nor anything more needed. Just Sitting, crossing the legs (or in the balanced way one is able) is all that is. It is not a matter of attaining a special mood or peace or concentration (although such might come precisely from the non-effort to attain so and the lack of need .... strange how that works). If the mind is clear or even if cloudy with thoughts, it is all good Zazen ... yet that very fact of dropping judgments and thoughts of preferences and aversions about Zazen and all of life will, in fact, help the sun and open sky of clarity shine through and be seen (sometimes shining right in the clouds themselves). Zazen is a radical lack of need for anything more from Zazen but Zazen ... and that very lack of need is Fulfillment and Peace.

If one Chants before, or lights incense and bows, all is in Celebration and Gratitude for this.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Shinshou]

I do the usual things...rock back and forth a few times, take a few breaths in and out of my mouth, and since I found Treeleaf, if I'm at home I strike my singing bowl three times (for Buddha, dharma, and sangha)...and that's about it. If I've come immediately from somewhere physically or mentally taxing, I might spend a minute or two, maximum, willfully noticing the breath, just to be aware that I'm being aware. That's really it.

LAH/ST

[Amelia]

Sometimes, preparing for zazen is being late for zazen while stuffing an air matress into a small bag!

Gassho, sat today, lah

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[Seishin]

I'm with the "Zazen starts my day" group. If the dogs not woke me earlier, I get up, go down stairs and sit for 25-40 minutes. Then it time to brew tea, so my wife can take her meds and allow her day to start as they kick in, while I'm walking the dog. No warm up just straight in cold turkey. No day the same, a reflection of impermanence. Simples.

STMIZ / lah

[Emmet]

I recite 'The Verse of the Kesa' and offer incense.

If I'm going to be doing a lot of sitting, I stretch, either by (A) sitting in a chair, right foot on the floor, the left ankle resting on the right knee, I gently lean forward and press down on the left knee, hold it, and reverse (this can be done sitting on the floor, with one leg stretched out in front of you, but don't do it sitting on the zafu; you can hyperextend your unsupported knee), and/or (B) sitting on my zafu, I bring the soles of both feet together, grasp them, pull them inward and lean forward, relaxing my legs.

In any event, once I'm settled on my zafu (I sit Burmese), I lean far forward (stretching thighs and back), then straighten upright; "butt out, gut out", place my hands in the dhyana mudra, take a deep breath, and sit.

I end with the Four Vows.

Sat today.

[Kyonin]

Hi!

I chant the Heart Sutra and Kesa Verse. Usually I do yoga after zazen, but sometimes I like to do it before. Specially when the mind is too busy producing thoghtnados

Gassho,

Kyonin
Sat/LAH

[Suuko]

Greetings,

For me too, it's some Physical exercises before I sit as it relaxes the muscles. I think what's more important is the consistency about the sitting.

Gassho,
Geerish.
ST.