I was reading a piece entitled, Shikantaza is Understanding Emptiness by Shunryu Suzuki and I came across a few parts that really resonated with me.
I feel as if I understand this emptiness on the zafu. I don't sit with this idea that I am "a very calm zen person sitting in a very calm way, in a very calm setting, and only calm things should happen". I know that this type of mindset can cause tension
If my sitting is interrupted by something as simple as a sneeze or something as troubling as 15 missed calls from a client, I have become moderately skilled at letting it pass or welcoming it without trouble. But what about off of it?
When I am working - am I empty? Or do I have this subconscious mindset and tension of how busy I am and how I must get this done? When I am with my partner, even at nearly a decade, am I enjoying our vacation with emptiness, or am I tense that our trip may take a bad turn?
I love the part in the piece that mentions, "a part of our mind is working hard" - even though we don't know it, or realize it. It's so true.
This reminds me of another story, in which I'm unsure of the source, but it's recited by Fr. Tony De Mello.
The disciple was always complaining to his Master, “You are hiding the final secret of Zen from me.” And he would not accept the Master’s denials.
One day they were walking in the hills when they heard a bird sing.
“Did you hear that bird sing?” said the Master.
“Yes,” said the disciple.
“Well, now you know that I have hidden nothing from you.”
“Yes.” said the disciple.
If you really heard a bird sing, if you really saw a tree... you would know. Beyond
words and concepts.
What was that you said? That you have heard dozens of birds sing and seen hundreds of trees? Ah, was it the tree you saw or the label? If you look at a tree and see a tree, you have really not seen the tree. When you look at the tree and see a miracle—then, at last, you have seen! Did your heart never fill with wordless wonder when you heard the song of the bird?
Is there a piece of us that's working hard even we do not know it? One that is even present when listening to the rustles of the trees and calls of the birds? Shikantaza can help us truly listen, truly hear, and truly see. And all it takes is 'just sitting'.
ST,
Rakurei
In our practice of shikantaza we do not seek for anything, because when we seek for something, an idea of self is involved. Then we try to achieve something to further the idea of self. That is what you are doing when you make some effort, but our effort is to get rid of self-centered activity. That is how we purify our experience.
For instance, if you are reading, your wife or husband may say, “Would you like to have a cup of tea?” “Oh, I am busy,” you may say, “don’t bother me.” When you are reading in that way, I think you should be careful. You should be ready to say, “Yes, that would be wonderful, please bring me a cup of tea.” Then you stop reading and have a cup of tea. After having a cup of tea, you continue your reading.
Otherwise your attitude is, “I am very busy right now!” That is not so good, because then your mind is not actually in full function. A part of your mind is working hard, but the other part may not be working so hard. You may be losing your balance in your activity. If it is reading, it may be okay, but if you are making calligraphy and your mind is not in a state of emptiness, your work will tell you, “I am not in a state of emptiness.” So you should stop.
For instance, if you are reading, your wife or husband may say, “Would you like to have a cup of tea?” “Oh, I am busy,” you may say, “don’t bother me.” When you are reading in that way, I think you should be careful. You should be ready to say, “Yes, that would be wonderful, please bring me a cup of tea.” Then you stop reading and have a cup of tea. After having a cup of tea, you continue your reading.
Otherwise your attitude is, “I am very busy right now!” That is not so good, because then your mind is not actually in full function. A part of your mind is working hard, but the other part may not be working so hard. You may be losing your balance in your activity. If it is reading, it may be okay, but if you are making calligraphy and your mind is not in a state of emptiness, your work will tell you, “I am not in a state of emptiness.” So you should stop.
If my sitting is interrupted by something as simple as a sneeze or something as troubling as 15 missed calls from a client, I have become moderately skilled at letting it pass or welcoming it without trouble. But what about off of it?
When I am working - am I empty? Or do I have this subconscious mindset and tension of how busy I am and how I must get this done? When I am with my partner, even at nearly a decade, am I enjoying our vacation with emptiness, or am I tense that our trip may take a bad turn?
I love the part in the piece that mentions, "a part of our mind is working hard" - even though we don't know it, or realize it. It's so true.
This reminds me of another story, in which I'm unsure of the source, but it's recited by Fr. Tony De Mello.
The disciple was always complaining to his Master, “You are hiding the final secret of Zen from me.” And he would not accept the Master’s denials.
One day they were walking in the hills when they heard a bird sing.
“Did you hear that bird sing?” said the Master.
“Yes,” said the disciple.
“Well, now you know that I have hidden nothing from you.”
“Yes.” said the disciple.
If you really heard a bird sing, if you really saw a tree... you would know. Beyond
words and concepts.
What was that you said? That you have heard dozens of birds sing and seen hundreds of trees? Ah, was it the tree you saw or the label? If you look at a tree and see a tree, you have really not seen the tree. When you look at the tree and see a miracle—then, at last, you have seen! Did your heart never fill with wordless wonder when you heard the song of the bird?
Is there a piece of us that's working hard even we do not know it? One that is even present when listening to the rustles of the trees and calls of the birds? Shikantaza can help us truly listen, truly hear, and truly see. And all it takes is 'just sitting'.
When we receive a letter from the world of emptiness, then the practice of shikantaza is working.
Rakurei
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