Perfectionism and over-effort during zazen and in life

[gaurdianaq]

Consistent effort. When your effort starts slacking, tighten it up.

Gassho

Sat Today

Just make sure you don't tighten up too much either


Evan,
Sat today, lah

[Yokai]

Life is rarely "perfect," so I advise folks to be sincere in their efforts but...not too loose and not too tight

Thanks Jundo,

I'm finding the Rakusu sewing a great lesson in this. Sincere effort, but accepting the perfection in imperfections. Especially for someone with perfectionist tendencies!

Gassho, Chris satlah

[Tom A.]

Hi Matthieuw, here’s my take on it:

Life is perfectly imperfect and in Zazen it’s beyond perfect and imperfect rather you are precious, whole and complete like all Buddha’s and ancestors. Trusting that I am whole and complete like a Buddha, I naturally, to quote you “return to 'being' - nothing special. How does one cultivate the quality of resting awareness (i.e, be aware) so that one doesn't get entangled in these qualities of mind”? When stressful situations come up one part of me perceives everything is accepting, equanimous, whole, complete, precious, non-stressful non-stress, not wanting more of anything, just the way it is and another part of me is completely stressed out. Like seeing different things in each eye as Jundo says sometimes.

In the ZenofEverything podcast Jundo was asked what the secret of Zen is and Jundo replied something like: it is having two opposing views at once, like a tear of sadness rolling down the face and a smile of joy at the same time. Sorry this is more than three sentences but I think it’s extremely relevant.


Gassho,
Tom
Sat/LAH

[Inshin]

I have to give credit to learning as father and husband. We learn best by doing. Remember most of you are younger, and life is what you are willing to surrender to.
Gassho
Deep bows
sat/ lah
Taishi


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Letting go
Of rejecting and clinging
Racing thoughts and struggle
To be where I am not
I surrender to
The firmness of zafu
And the softness of breath

Gassho
Sat

[Jundo]

Letting go
Of rejecting and clinging
Racing thoughts and struggle
To be where I am not
I surrender to
The firmness of zafu
And the softness of breath

Gassho
Sat

[Tairin]

Thanks Jundo,

I'm finding the Rakusu sewing a great lesson in this. Sincere effort, but accepting the perfection in imperfections. Especially for someone with perfectionist tendencies!

Gassho, Chris satlah

Oh yeah! In spades! I am a perfectionist but sewing the Rakusu made me confront those tendencies.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Risho]

Letting go
Of rejecting and clinging
Racing thoughts and struggle
To be where I am not
I surrender to
The firmness of zafu
And the softness of breath

Gassho
Sat

Awesome! Thank you

Edit I have to add this from Tenso Kyokun; just read this from the 8th talk by Jundo and it is so resonant to this

Even when, for example, one makes a soup of the crudest greens, one should not give rise to a mind that loathes it or takes its lightly; and even when one makes a soup of the finest cream, one should not give rise to a mind that feels glad and rejoices in it. If one is at the outset free from preferences, how could one have any aversions? Even when confronted with poor ingredients, there is no negligence whatsoever; even when faced with scanty ingredients, one exerts oneself. Do not change your mind in accordance with things. Whoever changes his mind in accordance with things, or revises his words to suit the person [he is speaking to], is not a man of the way.

I love this mind of surrendering so you can really just be in it; not passivity but a path to true action, right action, not for the ego. So ordinary but a true miracle

Again thank you Ania; beautiful poem.

Apologies for going over 3 sentences

Gassho

rish
-stlah

[Tai Shi]

Perfectionism and over-effort during zazen and in life

Ania, I have to admire your stick to it ness it’s great to see for all of you, I remember buying thread and cloth, realizing sewing rakusu was impossible and though I’d studied The Mind of Clover and Jundo’s suggested readings. I just say impossible because of my disability so almost too late I asked for help, and received beautiful green rakusu gift of my Sanghs, 2016, and again this year 2020 being part of Jukai, thank you for my rakusu, thank you back in 2016, my Sangha let me participate. Marjorie sewed my rakusu cover my beautiful wife of 38 years.
Gassho
sat/ lah
Tai Shi


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kokuu]

Letting go
Of rejecting and clinging
Racing thoughts and struggle
To be where I am not
I surrender to
The firmness of zafu
And the softness of breath

Beautiful!

[Seikan]

Letting go
Of rejecting and clinging
Racing thoughts and struggle
To be where I am not
I surrender to
The firmness of zafu
And the softness of breath

Gassho
Sat

Beautiful verse Ania! The last line, in particular, really resonated with me.

Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-



Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Jakuden]

Beautiful words, Ania. Matthieuw, everything has been said here, so I will just say I still practice with this... every minute of every day. To attain the enlightened way... a way non-attainable. So let everyone's advice sink into your bones and changes will happen slowly, but don't expect to be perfect in dropping your perfectionism either!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday