Seeking Nothing vs. Goal Setting

[Onkai]

In the June 7-8 Zazenkai, Rev. Kyonin gave a wonderful talk on “Outline of Practice of Master Bodhidharma.” There is one part of Bodhidharma's writing that I’m having trouble with, though, that of “seeking nothing.” I have a very clear goal, and derive much joy from progressing toward that goal. Much of my energy is spent on that goal. Is this teaching against goal setting or holding goals too closely? How do others relate to goal setting and attainment? Do goals affect Zen practice?

Gassho,
Onkai
SAT/LAH

[Shinshi]

Others will be along to give you a better answer, but I'll tell this story. I had a friend that was training for a running race that was important to her and she had a specific goal time in mind. She worked really hard, trained as best she could. But in some tune up races she didn't do as well as she expected and she told me she wasn't going to do the race because she didn't think she was going to hit her goal time. My response to her was that her goal time was just a made up thing in her head. It was a fantasy about how she hoped the world would be. But that a race, any race, is a real thing. The race is a real experience - regardless as to the outcome. She was going to deny herself something real because she was afraid the reality wouldn't live up to her fantasy. She ran the race (and hit her goal as it turned out).

As I see it goals are fine - it is when you attach to the goals that you get in trouble. Goals can help you orient yourself, help you set your direction. But then stay in reality as you set off on your path. It isn't the reaching the goal that is important - it is the journey. Kind of a cliche but still true.

At least that is how I see it.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Doshin]

Onkai I am going with Shinshi’s response. As wisdom offers, don’t attach yourself to a single outcome. Maybe not an easy task but something to work towards. I have always been goal oriented, but with years of practice I am “less” (relative concept attached.

Doshin
St

[Jundo]

My standard response around here when it comes to our Shikantaza "Goalless" practice:

Goals AND dropping all goals ... at the same time!

... as if on two channels (not one not two channels), encountering life one way out of one eye (with goals) ... the other way out of the other eye (nothing lacking, nothing to attain) ...

... with both eyes open at once allowing a clear vision.

As well, work with diligence and energy on the goals one has, with all one's might if needed to WIN! ... yet cling lightly to outcomes and do not give a whip about win or lose ... all at once!

Bodhidharma was a goal driven man, thus he traveled from India to China, took on students, taught (according to the legends) Kung Fu in his spare time when not feeding himself and dusting up around his cave. He also had the goal to write that “Outline of Practice of Master Bodhidharma.” Same for Buddha and all the old Zen Masters like Dogen, who were rather goal driven folks who taught and built communities and left us hundreds of pages of Teachings on being "goalless."

I also consider myself a person with goals: I run a translation office with many deadlines and projects to complete, I have a family to raise, study Japanese each day, clean around the house, have two books in the works (actually three), and Treeleaf.

So, what is an example?

A few years ago, I was applying for a program, and I had to study for a tough exam to get in. It took a few months of hard work to prepare for the exam. I am competitive about such things, and take them as like a sports challenge, so I study diligently and with focus step by step. The pass rate was low, but I put that aside. I had my doubts sometimes, but I left that aside. I kept going. I wanted to achieve, because I had a goal and felt need to pass. I was committed to the goal but, at the same time, kept things in balance and was not a prisoner of the outcome. Nonetheless, there was a goal and I WANTED TO WIN!

At the same time ... Zazen has allowed me the ability to find the switch inside of "nothing to attain, nothing more needed, life is already complete and whole, thus all goals dropped." Pushing that switch, I was able to switch back and forth in my heart between "goals" and "no goals." I needed to achieve, yet there is nothing to achieve. Furthermore, sometimes I can have the switch "on" and "off" AT THE SAME MOMENT.

The result ... it really does not matter. I did my best, and my heart knew peace even as I pushed on.

I use like abilities in all my work, from translation projects I do, to cleaning around the house, to writing this post to you right now.

Thus I always say: There is nothing lacking in this world, yet much is lacking ... nothing to fix, yet much to fix so grab a hammer ... nothing to clean in the world beyond clean and dirty, yet the dishes are piling up so grab the sponge ... when sick just be sick, things are "just as they are," but go see the doctor and take your medicine ... etc. etc. This is Shikantaza. Run that race like Shinshi, pushing toward the distant goal line, yet every step is total arrival like Kinhin, with not one more place to go or in need of going.

Thus we sit each day Zazen with not one more thing in need of doing, no other place to be ... then get up from the cushion, and get our ass in gear.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Onkai]

Thank you. This discussion is helpful for me.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/LAH

[Tairin]

I enjoy and struggle with the paradox of the goalless goal. Surely it is the Koan of our practice. Thanks for raising the topic Onkai.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Jundo]

I enjoy and struggle with the paradox of the goalless goal. Surely it is the Koan of our practice. Thanks for raising the topic Onkai.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

Yes. In fact, it is the Koan of the Relative and Absolute, Samsara and Nirvana, Birth and Death and yet no Birth and Death, a self yet no self, places to go and time ticking yet no place but here and no time ...

We sit with "nothing lacking, nothing to attain" then get back to the rat race.

It is a switch of "goallessness" that we learn to press in Shikantaza ... and a Koan switch that can come to be "on" AND "off" AT THE SAME TIMELESS TIME!

Gassho, J

STLah

[Jon]

As a newcomer, this community reinvigorated my zazen practice when I joined in early April, with the goal of sitting for fifteen minutes a day. However, when I took on greater responsibilities at work in early May, my practice began slipping. Some mornings, I would meditate for only a minute or two as I pressured myself to get to work early; on others, I rushed out the door without sitting at all.

Feeling guilty about my failure to attain this basic goal didn’t help. Picking up Thich Nhat Hanh’s little book *How to Walk* did. I found that, cranked up from teaching seventh-graders after work, I could do walking meditation in the late spring weather.

Then I fractured a bone in my foot on Thursday. It’s easier to do shikantaza now that I have to elevate and ice my foot. While I don’t celebrate the injury, it has called me back to practice.

Gassho,
Jon
Sat/LAH