Whats the difference...?

[Jundo]

Hey man,

For what it's worth. Zazen is a waste of time! Its utterly worthlessness but that's where its pricelessness comes from. As far as I can tell it hasn't made me smarter, more attractive, wealthy nor can I levitate (though I have my hopes set on this one) and yet at times when I'm sitting I'm freed from those fetters. I get a taste of freedom.

One might say that Zazen makes one as smart, attractive and wealthy as one would want. It is the "secret" by which all one's wishes come true.

It does so by making one want and wish to be precisely as smart, attractive and wealthy as one is.

As well, in the equanimity and wholeness of Zazen, there is a certain Beauty to the universe which holds all judgments of attractive or unattractive, and a "nothing lacking" which fills all measures of rich or poor. One might call this Wisdom as "Buddha smarts."

Then, getting up from the Zafu, one can get to work to put food on the family table (fight world hunger too), or crack the books in school to learn some stuff. Even though there is "nothing lacking," there are still hungry mouths to fill. One may also know that the real "attractive" is more on a person's inside than out.

Zazen itself will not put a new car into your driveway but, in the end, it will help one realize that there is no place in need of going even as we get up and go.

Regarding levitation and such magical powers, Dogen and other Zen Masters taught that the real "magical and miraculous" powers of life are to breathe, drink tea, scratch one's nose. The whole universe literally comes together just so one can sneeze.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Hoseki]

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday/lah


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[Tairin]

Regarding levitation and such magical powers, Dogen and other Zen Masters taught that the real "magical and miraculous" powers of life are to breathe, drink tea, scratch one's nose. The whole universe literally comes together just so one can sneeze.

Tairin
Sat today & lah

[Amelia]

My brain just skimmed all of these words and put out, "not two."

Gassho, sat today, lah

[Getchi]

the real "magical and miraculous" powers of life are to breathe, drink tea, scratch one's nose. The whole universe literally comes together just so one can sneeze.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

Wow. Thankyou /bow

GAssho
LaH.

Geoff.

[SNPII]

Like the metaphor about the child from a barren woman (ie. it simply does not exist) the self is equally non-existent. So, when we sit and either do or not do as the case may be, are we not merely swapping one identity for another? Are we not substituting 'me' the psychotherapist for 'me' the 'Zazen(ist)....then again for something else. Round and Round again....? No change and nothing changing.....still deluded, still believing in fantasies and still experiencing Dukkha!

How does this get us closer to experiencing the FACT of how we DO exist as oppose to how we appear to exist? Am I not merely moving the furniture around in the prison cell rather than walking through the door of liberation (...pft, that was a bit fluffy....but you get the gist?)

Thanks,

Tony

#sat_today

Hey Tony!

I have been studying a lot on this lately and I must say that I am finally getting to the point of simplifying it. I think the point of "non-self" is all in focusing on what our perception is about what we originally (as imperfect humans) see the "self" as in the first place.

We are compounded and interconnected of many parts and through many people and things. If we find that we are focusing on those parts, things, and people then that is okay as long as we can allow them to not define our perception of our personality. I am not going into the soul/no-soul debate as that is a whole other conversation. I am going to say that when I imagine my "self" through the studies I am currently on I am finding that it is no where near what I thought it was before the studies.

If I am able to separate the parts, the people and the things visually (as if they are floating through a stream or in the sky away from me) then I know there is no obsession or attachment to them at that present time. This feeling or perception doesn't often last for long periods, but it does allow me to sit in the mindful Zazen way even if just for a few seconds. I too practice many types of meditation and am still sifting through the philosophical awaiting to come to a more streamlined comfort zone in Buddhism.

Hope this is helps! I know it has helped me writing it!

Sat2day

[SNPII]

Fantastic! What movie is this from?

Sat2day

[Shinshi]

Fantastic! What movie is this from?

Sat2day

The Dustin Hoffman scene? It is from I Heart Huckabees

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH