Emptiness is form and form is emptiness

[Shinshou]

Hi Shinshou,

I would say that it does not always have to be a clear "experience" (as a side note, a strange word when there is not necessarily a sense of separation between the experiencer and the experienced as in most experiences, but it is a kind of experience nonetheless). Rather, this can be something more subtle, like a felt and unvoiced sense of this which creeps into the bones about life. In fact, I think the subtle, underlying sense is best. The hard borders seem to soften, a light seems to shine through the chaos and mess of this world, without need for a total dropping away.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

You know, I was thinking about this the other morning, and realized that although I've never had this experience during shikantaza, I have had it during tonglen. There wasn't an experience of oneness, or egolessness, or wholeness, but, like you say, a softening of the borders between myself and those I was breathing toward, a kind of co-creating connection.

Thanks again for all the teaching you've done on this thread.

Shinshou (Dan)
Sat Today

[Ryudo]

I am a bit overwhelmed here...
Thank you all


Gassho/SatToday