Brad Warner on Shikantaza

[Kokuu]

Hi all

Often when we mention Brother Brad here it is because of some disagreement over Engaged Buddhism or his views on online practice. However, as might be expected from someone who shares the same teacher as Jundo, a large percentage of his views on Zen and Zen practice are very much in line with what we do here, and I find his books to be a reliable source of information on practice and Dogen, even if he and Jundo might vary in some interpretations.

So, as a reminder, here is Brad talking about Shikantaza in relation to Dogen's Mountains and Waters Sutra (and Shohaku Okumura's book on the subject) which I personally find to be very good, as is much of his material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJXH18zXSj4

I personally support Brad on Patreon (although that is not a suggestion that you should also) as I find his talks to be useful, even if I don't agree with them, and am glad he is around to give a different perspective on practice as a very visible member of our lineage.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah

[Bokucho]

Thank you for the video Kokuu, I'm currently reading the exact book he's talking about! One of the next in line is also one of Brad Warner's books, so this video speaks basically directly to me, how serendipitous Also, mentioning aliens is a good way to keep me interested

Gassho,

Joshua
SatToday

[Jundo]

Okumura Roshi's book on the Mountains & Waters Sutra is one of the best English language books on Zen ever written, period.

That said, I don't recommend it to complete beginners or people very very new to Dogen. After a bit of experience and familiarity with the old boy, it is an excellent study.

https://wisdomexperience.org/product/mountains-and-waters-sutra/

Brad's books on Shobogenzo are also fun reads (the second one was more fun if you are really into Japanese translation), but often I wish he would do his homework better. He sometimes pulls information out of his ear without checking. With that caution in mind, they are excellent and fun reads, e.g., where he turns expressions like "daily rice and tea" into "daily cheetos and pepsi."

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Shinshi]

Thank you for posting that Kokuu.

My favorite line:

"we have to flow"

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Kevin M]

My favorite line:

"we have to flow"

I like that expression though I haven't watched the video yet. In my sitting I'm trying to remain open i.e. not concentrating per se, but rather endeavoring to just sit openly and allowing flow to occur where the things I see and try to attach to or resist are not so much dismissed as just allowed to wander the empty room with me and leave on their own by the open door. Not entirely successful!

Gassho,
Kevin
ST

[Jundo]

... I wish he would do his homework better. He sometimes pulls information out of his ear without checking. With that caution in mind, they are excellent and fun reads, e.g., where he turns expressions like "daily rice and tea" into "daily cheetos and pepsi."

Sorry, I spoke in error. It was not "cheetos and pepsi" but rather "Doritos/chips and beer." (Don't Be A Jerk P. 173).

(Ya see, I actually look and confirm my facts ).

Gassho, J

STLah

[Onka]

I know I've said before that I'm a Soto Zen Buddhist student because of comrade Brad but comrade Jundo is my teacher. I have criticised comrade Brad for not being as 'engaged' as I would expect of any Buddhist. Make no mistake sometimes comrade Jundo pisses me off too but I feel an affinity with him which is why I am here.
I am going to get the hook for this but at the moment I'm literally in a fight for my life and give zero ##### about the nuances of a particular teacher's position on whether bears really do shit in the woods. I'm over this bollocks because that's exactly what it is, ####### bollocks and I'm ashamed that I've contributed to this BS when there is so much more to give a toss about in this world, like being able to breathe. I've got the next 6 months to get through that is going to be literally touch and go. So I'm going to wind my neck in and focus on MY Practice. Doing better. Being better. Nothing more. Nothing less.
No Gassho. No Deep Bows. Just me, Onka a ####up who's trying to stay alive.

[Shokai]

be well Anna, we love you and we're pulling with you.
gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Meian]

I know I've said before that I'm a Soto Zen Buddhist student because of comrade Brad but comrade Jundo is my teacher. I have criticised comrade Brad for not being as 'engaged' as I would expect of any Buddhist. Make no mistake sometimes comrade Jundo pisses me off too but I feel an affinity with him which is why I am here.
I am going to get the hook for this but at the moment I'm literally in a fight for my life and give zero ##### about the nuances of a particular teacher's position on whether bears really do shit in the woods. I'm over this bollocks because that's exactly what it is, ####### bollocks and I'm ashamed that I've contributed to this BS when there is so much more to give a toss about in this world, like being able to breathe. I've got the next 6 months to get through that is going to be literally touch and go. So I'm going to wind my neck in and focus on MY Practice. Doing better. Being better. Nothing more. Nothing less.
No Gassho. No Deep Bows. Just me, Onka a ####up who's trying to stay alive.

Onka Anna

My beloved sister

[emoji170][emoji170][emoji170][emoji120][emoji120][emoji120]

Stay strong. Keep fighting.
You're not alone. Love you always.

Deep bows, meian kim

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Shinshi]

Hang in there Anna. This wave too shall crest and subside.

We are there with you. Off to sit Metta for you.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Yokai]

Thank you for posting this Kokuu . It gave me new insights into Shikantaza, especially the JUSTTHIS'n'FLOW.

Too right it's HARD for us Brad. JUST anything is a doozy!

Gassho, Chris

[Much Metta to you Anna. We all have times when much stuff is blah blah. It can bring clarity on what's important too.]

[Jundo]

Thank you for posting this Kokuu . It gave me new insights into Shikantaza, especially the JUSTTHIS'n'FLOW.

Too right it's HARD for us Brad. JUST anything is a doozy!

Gassho, Chris

[Much Metta to you Anna. We all have times when much stuff is blah blah. It can bring clarity on what's important too.]

I would remind you, though, that Zazen is always right, and is a sacred sitting with nothing more to attain, to add or take away, and no other place in need of going ...

... both when one feels "flow" and when one does not feel "flow." The universe is always "flowing," felt or not.

It is something like saying that the sky is always open, clear and boundless whether there are clouds or not. Even when we see clouds, we can also come to see the sky in the clouds. Further, even when the sky is not seen sometimes, it has gone no place.

Truly "goalless" sitting means not to chase after or need "flow." It "flows" ... both when flow is felt and when it is not, even if some days feeling totally blocked.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Yokai]

Thank you Jundo for bringing me back to this [emoji4]

Deep bows, Chris stlah

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[Ryumon]

Brad is a bit kooky, and you have to be careful to get the nuggets from what he says. I kind of think he's playing the part of a non-conventional zen teacher, and he does it well sometimes. But when he talks seriously, it's clear that he knows a lot. In some ways, I think if he dropped the kooky persona, he would be a better zen teacher, but maybe that's just not who he is.

Re the Mountains and Rivers Sutra, I tried to start reading it some months ago and didn't get very far. Perhaps it's time to start again.

Perhaps it's always time to start again.

Gassho,

Kirk

sat

[Luigi]

Thanks for posting the video!

I'm reading Brad's two books on Shobogenzo as well and I like how he translates it to the 21st century (including Doritos and beer ). I also bought Okumura's guide to the Mountains and Waters Sutra, but as Jundo commented, it's not for beginners. It's quite dense—in Dogen's poetic way.

Gassho,

Luigi
ST