Perfectly average at Zen

[Tom A.]

I need to constantly remind myself that Soto Zen is not about being special or gaining things like enlightenment, pride, merit, status and so on. Shikantaza Zazen is the thing that is FULLY and PERFECTLY COMPLETE ALREADY. If ideas of gain can be avoided, then most pitfalls can be avoided IMO. Being a below average human and Zen practitioner myself, there are more misses or failures than hits or successes in my life when it comes to wisdom, fairness, courage, self-control, humility, empathy, compassion and competence. Therefore, I think it is wise to strive to be average instead of exceptional at life. It is very hard to be average, and even exceptional people like Einstein or Mozart were probably more average than we realize, excepting in theoretical physics and music of course. To strive to be an average plain spoken human being with a firm grip on reality, and to not feel entitled to expect special treatment no matter who I am, what I do or don’t do, or what or how much I practice is a very hard thing to do. I wish to be okay with being forever below average and striving for averageness all while being a perfectly whole and complete human being. What Jundo would probably call “fully and completely perfectly-average.”

Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

[gaurdianaq]

What makes you say you're below average? What even is average besides a measure of a specific group of things? Collect a big enough sample size and all notions of average go out the window.


Evan,
Sat today, lah

[Tom A.]

What makes you say you're below average? What even is average besides a measure of a specific group of things? Collect a big enough sample size and all notions of average go out the window.


Evan,
Sat today, lah

I don’t mean to sound self disparaging, “average” and “a low self worth” are not synonymous to me. “Worth” is a constant to me, all humans are “worthy” and have “self worth.”

Sorry, I should have put “average” in scare quotes meaning something along the lines of, ethical, humble, bland, down to earth and contrasted it with “perfectionism” and the need for praise and to feel special. By “average” I meant most people are in fact below the level of expertise in most things and therefore perfection is an illogical goal. “Averageness” is an illusion but a useful one, its like a slot machine that gives a dollar fifty for every dollar you put in, it makes you rich compared to being a perfectionist.

Zen tends to attract suffering people, and sometimes that suffering person has a low self esteem like I sometimes have. A low self esteem wants to feel special and sometimes tries to achieve that by trying to “out-zen” others in life and on the internet thereby feeling superior and special, failing understand that we are already special and worthy by the fact of our Buddha Nature or being Human, Sentient Beings and we just need to remain silent to realize it but its true regardless of what we do or dont do, our merit, our job, etc...

(Sorry these are longer than 3 sentences)


Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

[Kyotai]

I need to constantly remind myself that Soto Zen is not about being special or gaining things like enlightenment, pride, merit, status and so on. Shikantaza Zazen is the thing that is FULLY and PERFECTLY COMPLETE ALREADY. If ideas of gain can be avoided, then most pitfalls can be avoided IMO. Being a below average human and Zen practitioner myself, there are more misses or failures than hits or successes in my life when it comes to wisdom, fairness, courage, self-control, humility, empathy, compassion and competence. Therefore, I think it is wise to strive to be average instead of exceptional at life. It is very hard to be average, and even exceptional people like Einstein or Mozart were probably more average than we realize, excepting in theoretical physics and music of course. To strive to be an average plain spoken human being with a firm grip on reality, and to not feel entitled to expect special treatment no matter who I am, what I do or don’t do, or what or how much I practice is a very hard thing to do. I wish to be okay with being forever below average and striving for averageness all while being a perfectly whole and complete human being. What Jundo would probably call “fully and completely perfectly-average.”

Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

Hi Tom,

We should always continue to strive in life. Be a "Gainer." Gain in our knowledge, gain in our health, gain in our wealth, gain in our relationships, gain in your practice.. always gaining and learning. I do not suggest settling for "average." We all need challenges, and to grow through life. Perhaps you may never be regarded as an Einstein or Mozart, but I think you should strive to be the best possible Tom using the lot life has given you. That life would be FAR from average.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Onka]

Or we could just not strive to be anything, instead be the authentic person that we see in the mirror. Who that is continues to unfold.
Gassho
Onka
ST

[VictorV]

Who set what an 'average human' is?
When you sit is the concept of average human still there?
🙏
SatTodat&LaH

[Inshin]

Or we could just not strive to be anything, instead be the authentic person that we see in the mirror. Who that is continues to unfold.
Gassho
Onka
ST

[aprapti]

suzuki perfect.jpg



aprapti

std

[Tairin]

There isn’t any good Zazen. There isn’t any bad Zazen. There is just your Zazen.

Stop comparing and just sit.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shonin]

In being our authentic selves, isnt that a form of striving ?
This is where I am not wise enough to understand. "Everything is perfect but much to be improved upon." often gets said. But how do you unfold without trying to unfold?

Dave
SAT/LAH

[Risho]

We can discuss what it takes to learn to ride a bicycle but you gotta hop on and be willing to fall until the countless pieces come together and you figure out “your” balance point; it’s not that study isn’t helpful but u gotta just live and practice first (not two); this post is as much a response to myself as it is to you

gassho

risho
-stlah

[Shonin]

In thinking about it a little more I can kind of understand it. But it seems there is still effort involved. I understand this isn't a monkey mind puzzle to solve. But it does seem that some effort is needed to break from the cocoon.

Dave
SAT/LAH

[Onka]

In being our authentic selves, isnt that a form of striving ?
This is where I am not wise enough to understand. "Everything is perfect but much to be improved upon." often gets said. But how do you unfold without trying to unfold?

Dave
SAT/LAH

I'm not going to offer up some uber zenny word salad Shonin but I can speak of my recent experience. Just before Ango started Jundo and I were butting heads both publicly and privately. I wanted an answer to something. TBH I was demanding he engage in conflict but all he would say was "go away and sit Onka. Come back later". I was raging. Ranting to my partner that Jundo said this and that, raging an unrelenting storm inside so much so that I was physically ill. I'd never had someone refuse to engage with me. Anywhere!
So I sat while the storm inside my head raged. I sat while I was so angry I was crying. I sat even when swearing to myself that I was right, Jundo was wrong and I could practice just fine without a teacher. I sat and sat and then sat some more.
I don't even remember when it was or what was going through my head at the time but suddenly I realised that Jundo had been right. Furthermore, he was right to reach a point of ignoring all attempts to engage him in conflict. This to me Shonin was me shedding or peeling another layer of unnecessary baggage and whether it's true or BS I personally feel that I'm a tiny bit closer to my authentic self. I'd humbly suggest that this wasn't striving for anything but a fortunate accident that came about because I am a stubborn so and so who kept sitting haha.
Gassho
Onka
Sat today/threw the 3 sentence rule out the window. Apologies.

[Shonin]

Ty again, Onka. I will just sit and see what happens for myself in my own life. I do feel over the years layers have been shed. But sooo much more needs to be peeled away I feel. But I also think it's mental reminders to myself to cool down or remember I'm not so different from others. I'm glad you were able to overcome your anger in this area.

Dave
SAT/LAH

[Jundo]

Yes, Zen teaches that we are all average, all below average in some ways (the reason my major league baseball career never really got going ... and stopped at Little League), all have our talents in some ways (by the way, Einstein was not the best husband and father, I hear ...

Albert Einstein: the great scientist who was a flawed human being

https://yourstory.com/2017/03/albert-einstein-flawed-human

... and Mozart ?? )

https://youtu.be/3pUX-v9jHGk

... but we are also all "perfectly just what we are" even if not "perfect." We are all shining jewels, warts and all. Just be sincere, and do your best ... even if you strike out in Little League.

Gassho, J

STLah

PS - For those who want a little bit more of Mozart's baudier lyrics amid some truly lovely compositions (with a pretty good philosophy and history lesson tossed in too) ...

https://youtu.be/bfqZM-7zWj4