Question Regarding Where to Sit

[Eddie430]

Apologies in advance if this question was covered already somewhere and I couldn't find it.

I know that in our practice, we are supposed to be facing a wall.
But let's say that one day I had the opportunity to practice in a Japanese rock garden.

Would this be OK? Or should I still carve out some time to sit facing a wall?

I know this question seems overly picky, but as I'm new here, I want to make sure that I am practicing well, and in the prescribed manner.
I know that, essentially, "anywhere" is a place for practice, buuuuuuttt I want to make sure that my formal daily practice is in sync with the community here and that my formal practice isn't "sloppy".

Thanks in advance for the help!

Gassho,
Eddie
SatToday

[Kokuu]

I know that in our practice, we are supposed to be facing a wall.
But let's say that one day I had the opportunity to practice in a Japanese rock garden.

Jundo can give you the final nod but I don't see a problem with that at all.

In fact he has sat outside for the Zazenkai at times when the weather is nice.

Just as long as it isn't a sloppy rock garden, I reckon you're good to go!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-

[Jundo]

Yes. Actually, sit "facing the wall" is traditional in Soto Zen, and does help reduce (not close completely shut. however, just as we keep our eyes about 1/3 open) sensory stimulation to the outside world. But, in fact, probably it is a misunderstanding of an old teaching attributed to Bodhidharma to sit "like a wall," meaning to sit with the uprightness, equanimity and imperturbability of a wall.

A survey I did informally of many Soto teachers many years ago showed that many also sit facing into the room, looking downward to the floor.

And, as you mentioned, one can and should sit about anywhere ... in a hospital bed, a space capsule heading to the moon, rocking a child, or a busy city. This is part of the "We're All Beginners" series ...

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (21)

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14875-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2821%29

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLentAHand

[Jundo]

Let me quote an older post ...

===========

... the historical reason may be a mistranslation of Bodhidharma, regarded as the First Patriarch of Ch'an or the Zen tradition, and a writing long attributed to him (The Two Entrances and Four Practices) that used the term in Chinese "biguan/pi-kuan". Historian Heinrich Dumoulin discusses Bodhidharma's wall-contemplation.

"In an ancient text ascribed to Bodhidharma, his way of meditation is characterized by the Chinese word pi-kuan, literally wall-gazing or wall-contemplation. Except for the word pi-kuan, the same passage is found in a Mahayana sutra; it reads: "When one, abandoning the false and embracing the true, in simplicity of thought abides in pi-kuan, one finds that there is neither selfhood nor otherness, that ordinary men (prthagjana) and saints (arya) are of one essence." (Zen Enlightenment, p. 38).

The actual meaning of "wall gazing" may not be a literal "sit while gazing at a wall", but closer to "sit as if a wall seeing". Nobody really knows what the term originally meant however. The great Zen Historian Yanagida Seizan has (ala Shikantaza) interpreted the term to denote a sort of witnessing of the world with the steadfast detachment of a wall in which one “gazes intently at a vibrantly alive śunyatā (emptiness).”

So, whether facing the wall, or away from the wall ... just sit, without thought of in or out.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

PS - And, yes, when sitting in Rome, sit as the Romans sit.

[Eddie430]

Thank you to everyone that has replied!

And I honestly wish I had access to a Japanese rock garden right now!

Also, I had previously watched the Zazen for Beginners series and just wanted to say that I very much enjoyed it!
Thank you for tolerating my picking over minutia! I'm sure that I will get the hang of things as I reside here.

Gassho,
Eddie
SatToday

[Onka]

This is where I'm sitting and doing Shikantaza at the moment. One is my view. One is the curtain's view.
Gassho
Onka
ST

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[Jundo]

This is where I'm sitting and doing Shikantaza at the moment. One is my view. One is the curtain's view.
Gassho
Onka
ST

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Lovely Japanese garden, Onka! Perfect for Zazen!

Gassho, J

STLah

[Ryumon]

The actual meaning of "wall gazing" may not be a literal "sit while gazing at a wall", but closer to "sit as if a wall seeing". Nobody really knows what the term originally meant however. The great Zen Historian Yanagida Seizan has (ala Shikantaza) interpreted the term to denote a sort of witnessing of the world with the steadfast detachment of a wall in which one “gazes intently at a vibrantly alive śunyatā (emptiness).”

Well that confuses things... There's a whole element of the practice that could be the result of a mis-translation. It makes you wonder.... (And I say this as someone who long worked as a translator, and is aware how mistakes can be influential.)

Gassho,

Kirk

SAT

[Onka]

Lovely Japanese garden, Onka! Perfect for Zazen!

Gassho, J

STLah

It is indeed perfect. But a desert landscape where runners like Shinshi, even amongst the magnificent harshness find beauty in the rhythm of every stride and the richness of life in seemingly impossible conditions.
Shikantaza is indeed a gift.
Thank you for teaching us Jundo.
Gassho
Onka
ST

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[Tai Shi]

I sit weekdays in front of my computer putting ceremonially my Rakusu. This precious garment bestowed by or Sangha, a gift because my left hand is weak cannot hold cloth, needle and thread. I sit with computer 8:30 am CDT with Zendo friends. In front on computer Gassho from my office chair with arm rests so I don’t fall out. And I am quiet. Turn to Zazen and quiet say my chant to myself. Count breath until I no longer count breath and there is my breath and silence, there in my basement quietly for 30 minutes and bell suffice and bow with Gasho in hands folded. Quietly I meet my day. I have never told anyone. Not even wife, but sometimes cat Pepper visits when I sit. Luckily computer isn’t on the floor, then cat meow and exits. I guess I’m peaceful enough these days to attract our cat. I guess I’m Peaceful these days.
Tai Shi
sat/ lah
Gassho


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[Jakuden]

Let me quote an older post ...

===========

... the historical reason may be a mistranslation of Bodhidharma, regarded as the First Patriarch of Ch'an or the Zen tradition, and a writing long attributed to him (The Two Entrances and Four Practices) that used the term in Chinese "biguan/pi-kuan". Historian Heinrich Dumoulin discusses Bodhidharma's wall-contemplation.



The actual meaning of "wall gazing" may not be a literal "sit while gazing at a wall", but closer to "sit as if a wall seeing". Nobody really knows what the term originally meant however. The great Zen Historian Yanagida Seizan has (ala Shikantaza) interpreted the term to denote a sort of witnessing of the world with the steadfast detachment of a wall in which one “gazes intently at a vibrantly alive śunyatā (emptiness).”

So, whether facing the wall, or away from the wall ... just sit, without thought of in or out.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

PS - And, yes, when sitting in Rome, sit as the Romans sit.

That's really interesting and helpful. I only recently have had a wall-facing space (and even that isn't truly wall facing, more like bench-which-is-against-the-wall-facing) and sometimes wonder how important it is.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Jakuden]

This is where I'm sitting and doing Shikantaza at the moment. One is my view. One is the curtain's view.
Gassho
Onka
ST

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I have sat in a very similar rock garden with a very similar view, and probably similar sounds, too. Much Metta Onka, and please get well soon!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Tairin]

That's really interesting and helpful. I only recently have had a wall-facing space (and even that isn't truly wall facing, more like bench-which-is-against-the-wall-facing) and sometimes wonder how important it is.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

The first Zen Centre I sat with we sat with our backs to the wall and looking into the room. We were advised to look at the floor about 3 feet in front of us. Later I changed to sitting facing the wall. Sometimes I’ve sat on my deck or by a river or by a campfire or on a train or in an airport. My preference is to sit facing a wall. I find that I settle easier and am less distracted. Ultimately though I find it has more to do with my intention to sit rather than where. I often reflect on Jundo’s teaching of sitting in downtown Tokyo.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Jakuden]

The first Zen Centre I sat with we sat with our backs to the wall and looking into the room. We were advised to look at the floor about 3 feet in front of us. Later I changed to sitting facing the wall. Sometimes I’ve sat on my deck or by a river or by a campfire or on a train or in an airport. My preference is to sit facing a wall. I find that I settle easier and am less distracted. Ultimately though I find it has more to do with my intention to sit rather than where. I often reflect on Jundo’s teaching of sitting in downtown Tokyo.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

Yes same here, I often sit in my parked car since that’s the only way I will be left undisturbed. And I have done many hours of bus,train and plane zazen. At ZMM they nod to both their Rinzai and Soto roots by starting and ending the day facing the room, and the rest of the day they face the wall.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday-LAH


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[Ryudo]

Gassho/SatToday