Zazen experiences

[Neika]

My first “Zen” teacher was obsessed with experiences. Always asking if anyone had anything to share from the previous week sitting at home. Always asking if anyone thought they’d had an ‘enlightenment’ experience. Of course, this same person also used to tell us that we needed to control our emotions, that zen was all about emotional discipline and never getting upset with anything.

Gassho
Neika

-st


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

My first “Zen” teacher was obsessed with experiences. Always asking if anyone had anything to share from the previous week sitting at home. Always asking if anyone thought they’d had an ‘enlightenment’ experience. Of course, this same person also used to tell us that we needed to control our emotions, that zen was all about emotional discipline and never getting upset with anything.

Gassho
Neika

-st

Neika, was that in a mixed Soto-Rinzai lineage? I recall that you used to sit with the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Even so, I would not expect anyone there to advise "never getting upset about anything."

Gassho, Jundo

[Neika]

Neika, was that in a mixed Soto-Rinzai lineage? I recall that you used to sit with the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Even so, I would not expect anyone there to advise "never getting upset about anything."

Gassho, Jundo

No, this was actually at a Unitarian church in my hometown while I was still in high school, I'm thinking mid or late 80's. I don't recall if he was a Unitarian minister or not, or what his credentials actually were, but I do recall it was billed as a Zen class. My mother got me in since I was pretty obsessed with my martial arts and Japanese philosophy at the time. Fortunately, I later was able to sit at ZCLA and train with their staff which was, needless to say, a completely different experience.

Gassho,
Neika

[Shoki]

My first “Zen” teacher was obsessed with experiences. Always asking if anyone had anything to share from the previous week sitting at home. Always asking if anyone thought they’d had an ‘enlightenment’ experience. Of course, this same person also used to tell us that we needed to control our emotions, that zen was all about emotional discipline and never getting upset with anything.

Gassho
Neika

-st


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Neika,
From (more that one) personal experience, I will just say that just because someone or something identifies itself as a zen teacher or zen class, does not necessarily mean that's what it is.

Gassho
ST/lah
Shoki

[Neika]

Neika,
From (more that one) personal experience, I will just say that just because someone or something identifies itself as a zen teacher or zen class, does not necessarily mean that's what it is.

Gassho
ST/lah
Shoki

This is very true. Though in thinking about this some more last night, I am left wondering how much of that was simply the fact that I was a teenager and perhaps not understanding. Without remembering who that teacher was... it is very possible that the student was at fault.

Gassho, Neika
--st

[Seiko]

I have been having a roller coaster of experiences of late. At times, there is crystal clear "now", nothing to achieve, truly just sitting, other times overwhelming agitation. What could this mean?

Gassho

John

SatToday

Hi John,
An experience that I had many years ago worried me a lot. The monks where I was at the time didn't offer much advice. And I left. If you can, please understand from my mistake - zazen can be all kinds of things, the best advice is to set these experiences aside and continue to sit. Don't run away like I did.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah

[Chikyou]

I have only been sitting Zazen for a relatively short amount of time, but already I'm seeing changes in my practice.

Today I noticed that, instead of TRYING to focus on the breath with effort (when my brain wouldn't shut up) I was simply EXPERIENCING my breath, with wonder and curiosity.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Choboku]

In the wise words of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, "Strikes and gutters." There are many ups and downs in life, and the only way that I've found to get through it is to let things be as they are and adapt. You just take the weirdness and work with it.

Gassho
Sat today/LaH,
Choboku

[bayamo]

In the wise words of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, "Strikes and gutters." There are many ups and downs in life, and the only way that I've found to get through it is to let things be as they are and adapt. You just take the weirdness and work with it.

Gassho
Sat today/LaH,
Choboku

The Dude abides
#sattoday

Sent from my SM-A325M using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

For some of us, chemistry of the brain, delicate bodies, call for different forms of serenity and the serenity comes and goes. When I feel calm and normal, pain is manageable with chemotherapy, mind feels better with with advanced medication and then comes sitting meditation. Therapies are helpful and good for full understanding.
Gassho
sat/ lah