Practice question about Shikantaza

[Tom A.]

Well I appreciate you being a critic of that tendency. Whether or not I agree with you, or how much I agree with you doesn't matter. One reason is that a wise person told me you practice what the folks in the Zendo you are at practice. And here we practice in the lineage of Jundo Cohen. The second is that there needs to be more people like you keeping "the treasure of the true dharma eye" the way Bodhidharma intended it ie not a new age self help gimmick.

Gassho,

Tom

Sat

[Ippo]

Hi Tom,

I think perhaps your tension is coming from the idea that practice is either "A" or "B". It is neither A or B.

Zen, has really allowed me (and many others) to experience things "as they are" and observe the inherent empty nature of thoughts, emotions, feelings events. Everything, arises and passes. The mind (small mind not big mind) just tends to point, label, discriminate, distinguish, attach etc. Although, this ability to learn to observe things begins on the Zafu, over time, it seeps into our bones and this deeper truth can be experienced/applied in all aspects of our life. This, is a wonderful benefit.

Ultimately our true nature, is boundless, perfect, whole, etc. of course, we could use a little improvement too . When we/you can experience the 'mind' as just a part of 'awareness' then the subjective/relative viewpoint starts to hold a lot less credibility and weight. The world of the absolute reveals itself more and more and the distinguishments we make start to disappear.

I believe, the best 'advice' I could offer, is just sit. This is something that really needs to be experienced and felt. I often find it useful too, during my normal day, to come back to my body. Feel my heart beat, my internal "felt sense", watch the flow of emotions. Our body is a great way to help understand nature of impermanence from the inside out.

Remember though, ALL of experience is our practice: Ups and downs, sideways and forwards, etc. Just BE with what is.

I apologize if this was mentioned before, I didn't read every single reply.

Good luck bro

Gassho,

Ippo

SatLah

[Ippo]

Yes, not knowing is precious.

In Zen, we have a certain kind of "not knowing," however.

We may not know next week's weather, or the name of King Tut's cat, or whether life is found on a moon of Jupiter.

And yet, when Bodhidharma answered to the Emperor Wu, "Don't Know," when asked who he is, it was not some senile ignorance. It was the "knowing" that comes when there is no separate "I" to know, no separate "answer" to be known. This is True Knowing.

Gassho, J

STLah

"Not knowing is most intimate".

This experience, has certainly expanded in recent years, this really is a beautiful space to be in, true beginner's mind, joyous and free to BE.

Gassho,

Ippo

SatLah

[Zenkon]

Is that so? - Hakuin

Questions of "How do I feel?", "Why do I feel this way?", "What has caused me to feel this way?" are legitimate queries into the self, my self, as are attempts to understand the sources of anger, jealousy, greed. And, by understanding these sources, I can better use my anger, greed, jealousy to better understand my self. My question was not that zazen should be replaced, but rather supplemented by this questioning. It saddens me to think that the goal of my questioning was viewed as

to be better functioning consumers and less stressed workers in the suburbs

. I asked a legitimate question of incorporating the study/questioning of self into my zazen practice It did not warrant a trivializing response equating it with

Reddit click bate

.

Gassho

Zenkon

[Jundo]

Questions of "How do I feel?", "Why do I feel this way?", "What has caused me to feel this way?" are legitimate queries into the self, my self, as are attempts to understand the sources of anger, jealousy, greed. And, by understanding these sources, I can better use my anger, greed, jealousy to better understand my self. My question was not that zazen should be replaced, but rather supplemented by this questioning. It saddens me to think that the goal of my questioning was viewed as

It is vital to engage in such understanding of "mind theatre" when OFF the cushion. On the Zazen cushion, there is nothing to analyze, no question to ask. OFF the cushion, we should know when the mind is feeding us stories, where they come from, why they are happening, why we do not need to buy into the stories.

When I wrote the following, I did not mean you or Domyo, Zenkon. Sorry if what I said led you to think so. It is, however, a tendency in western Buddhism that cannot be denied. Meditation is used to make people more happy mall shoppers or efficient workers. The same tendency that is seen in Yoga (a very serious spiritual practice in India, become a suburban relaxation and beauty technique) is also seen in "mindfulness" meditation. Zazen (and Yoga) are far more than that.

I am a big critic of this tendency in modern Zen to talk about Zazen as just some kind of therapy or light "mindfulness" practice to be better functioning consumers and less stressed workers in the suburbs. It sometimes can make Zen practice sound like a "10 step self-help" program in being a "more effective you," pulled from a magazine or Reddit click bate. Zazen is not that small.

Gassho, J

STLah