Difficult Zazen

[Guest]

I must confess, with all that is going on currently in the Ukraine and with personal challenges, I am having more and more difficulty sitting zazen. I desire to do so less and less. Any advice?

Gassho

John

SatTodayLAH

[Tai Shi]

I try to sit at established times. Friends and neighbors help each other.
Gassho
sat/ lah


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[Rick]

I try to do shorter zazen periods when this happens to me to try maintain consistency. Even just 5 minutes.
Gassho,
Rick
ST

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[Bion]

Difficult Zazen

I must confess, with all that is going on currently in the Ukraine and with personal challenges, I am having more and more difficulty sitting zazen. I desire to do so less and less. Any advice?

Gassho

John

SatTodayLAH

Take a breather and figure out why is it that zazen is what you are inclined to give up on, rather than let’s say, reading news about the war, or some other activity. I know nothing about your personal challenges, but I do know life can become overwhelming and we can get discouraged, so most times, it’s good to lean on someone else for perspective and support.
Also, don’t stop sitting zazen, but rather, switch it up: sit for a shorter period, at a different time of the day, maybe in a different location. Zazen is not a chore, it is an act of kindness towards yourself in this particular situation.. Zazen is you putting down all those worries and allowing yourself to be in the middle of everything you’re experiencing, without suffering it.
We all go through tough times, John, so we encourage each other! Chin up, this too shall pass! [emoji3526]

Sorry for running long!

[emoji1374] Sat Today


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[Jundo]

I must confess, with all that is going on currently in the Ukraine and with personal challenges, I am having more and more difficulty sitting zazen. I desire to do so less and less. Any advice?

Some good advice here. Sit short right now, even 5 or 10 minutes, and RADICALLY put down the world, Ukraine, personal challenges for the 5 minutes, sitting simply in the fulfillment and "nothing else" of Zazen for that 5 or 10 minutes. 5 minutes of equanimity and allowing, nothing more to fix, change or do. After the 5, maybe 10, minutes, pick up the world and your person again.

Maybe later in the day, add another 5 or 10 minutes if you wish. Repeat as wished.

Also, add moments of 'instant Zazen,' in which one summons up within ... however briefly ... the equanimity and fulfillment of Zazen ... when seeing a news story on the way, facing a hard moment in life.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Nengei]

The act of preparing for, beginning, and having done Zazen reminds me of the parts of my practice that are whom I wish to be, how I wish to interact with the world, and my role in saving all sentient beings. Like many activities I choose to do, the hardest part is washing the food (to cook meals), stepping out the door (to go running), and sitting on my cushion (to sit in Zazen). Even when what I want is to order in, stay in bed, or watch TV.

Gassho
然芸 Nengei
Sat today. LAH.


Please excuse any unintended appearance that I am trying to teach or explain anything. I am preparing for ordination as a novice priest, and have no depth of knowledge or qualifications for teaching Zen.

[Jundo]

The act of preparing for, beginning, and having done Zazen reminds me of the parts of my practice that are whom I wish to be, how I wish to interact with the world, and my role in saving all sentient beings. Like many activities I choose to do, the hardest part is washing the food (to cook meals), stepping out the door (to go running), and sitting on my cushion (to sit in Zazen). Even when what I want is to order in, stay in bed, or watch TV.

[Meian]

Sometimes the most difficult part for me is getting started. What I often rely on is instazazen as it works anywhere, and there is no pressure for me. This means that 1) I remind myself that I am just sitting, nothing else, and 2) I am just sitting for a minute, two minutes, whatever I can do.

The rest becomes the flowing stream.

Gassho, meian stlh

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[Doshin]

Join one of the scheduled sitting groups if the times work for you. Sitting with others motivates.

Doshin
St

[DanM]

Going through my own tough period at the moment so I'm grateful to John for asking this question and for people's responses here. Sitting with the Euro/kiwi group most days but also allowing myself to sit shorter and/or later in the day seems to have helped me keep sitting every day at least, even if other elements of the practice are taking a bit of a backseat.

Gassho,
Dan
ST/LAH

[Tomás ESP]

Sometimes the most difficult part for me is getting started. What I often rely on is instazazen as it works anywhere, and there is no pressure for me. This means that 1) I remind myself that I am just sitting, nothing else, and 2) I am just sitting for a minute, two minutes, whatever I can do.

The rest becomes the flowing stream.

Gassho, meian stlh

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Same, great advice

Gassho, Tomás
Sat

[JohnS]

Thank you all for great help!

Gassho

John

SatTodayLAH

[Shoki]

Reading the horrible news has become the new "intoxicant" for me that I must be aware of and limit in relation to the precepts. It can become like a constant tape loop replaying over and over with the soundtrack of my own opinions. I agree with those who say to shorten the zazen periods in times of stress.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki

[Meian]

Going through my own tough period at the moment so I'm grateful to John for asking this question and for people's responses here.

Will sit for you as well.

Certain time-tested mindsets (as I mentioned) have become essential to my practice, and help me through even "moment by moment" challenges.

I have written previously of some of those times, when all I could do was simply "be" with what I was experiencing at that time.

Ultimately, I have found that the only "tool" I really need to practice anywhere -- is "me."

gassho, meian stlh

[Bokugan]

I must confess, with all that is going on currently in the Ukraine and with personal challenges, I am having more and more difficulty sitting zazen. I desire to do so less and less. Any advice?

Gassho

John

SatTodayLAH

I think we can be hard on ourselves sometimes. I just wanted to let you know you're not alone in this, John. I am going through much the same as what you describe.

Great advice here, especially making a point to just sit, even if only for 5 minutes out of the whole day.

Gassho,

Bokugan
SatToday LaH