Our practice

[Tom A.]

After a long time of over-thinking, hankering for stupid ideas, and over-complication and confusion about our practice, I came back to what our practice is at it's core:

Sit...

Be at peace and be kind...

Help to make the world a better place for all...

Gassho,

Tom

Sat

[Shinshi]

After a long time of over-thinking, hankering for stupid ideas, and over-complication and confusion about our practice, I came back to what our practice is at it's core:

Sit...

Be at peace and be kind...

Help to make the world a better place for all...

Gassho,

Tom

Sat

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Kokuu]

It definitely doesn't have to be complicated.

When the Buddha himself was asked to give the aim of the path, he gave a very similar answer:

"To avoid all evil
To cultivate good
To cleanse one's mind"

-- Dhammapada, 183.


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Tom A.]

It definitely doesn't have to be complicated.

And you really know a thing or two about Zen simplicity. If I remember correctly, you once told me that you can find joy in spending an afternoon watching squirrels in your yard. That impressed me a lot, it is a quality or skill that I (and probably most people) lack, to really see, hear and deeply find joy and wisdom in simplicity and nature as you are able to do. It is something that I am trying to cultivate.

Gassho,

Tom

Sat

[Kokuu]

And you really know a thing or two about Zen simplicity. If I remember correctly, you once told me that you can find joy in spending an afternoon watching squirrels in your yard. That impressed me a lot, it is a quality or skill that I (and probably most people) lack, to really see, hear and deeply find joy and wisdom in simplicity and nature as you are able to do. It is something that I am trying to cultivate.

I think that when it comes to practice, you definitely have the right idea not to overcomplicate things. However, we also try not to reify simplicity and give it some kind of special status. Sometimes life will allow simplicity, and sometimes not. Both are fine. It is the ease with which we let them be just as they are which is, to me, the most important (and most probably difficult) thing.

Part of my ability to watch squirrels comes from having a chronic illness and some days I don't have the energy to do much else. Other days my life is probably as busy as everyone else. I do, however, totally agree that taking time to stop and just observe is really important. This is exactly what we do in Zazen but we certainly don't have to limit it to our time on the cushion.

Even finding moments to stop and rest is important. Jundo often talks about 'insta-zazen' when we just take a minute, or even a few breaths, just to rest in what is happening. We don't always have a whole afternoon to watch squirrels but most of us can spare a few moments just to touch base.

I hope that life is treating you well at the moment, Tom. It sounds like you are in a good place.


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Jundo]

Sit...

Be at peace and be kind...

Help to make the world a better place for all...

Lovely. There certainly are worse philosophies in life!

And Kokuu speaks great wisdom: When life is simple, be simple. When life gets complicated, let it be complicated ... for doing so is the true Simplicity.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tom A.]

Lovely. There certainly are worse philosophies in life!

And Kokuu speaks great wisdom: When life is simple, be simple. When life gets complicated, let it be complicated ... for doing so is the true Simplicity.

Gassho, J

STLah

Gassho,
Tom

Sat

[Ekai]

That is why this practice fits me. But I do admit the simplicity can be difficult lol. I think we as humans have a tendency to overcomplicate things.

Gassho,
Ekai

SAT

[Rick]

I love it! One of the big reasons I gravitated toward this practice years ago is because it seemed like a perfect way to counterbalance my tendency to overthink things.

Gassho,
Rick
ST


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[BrianK]

Thank you for this. Makes a lot of sense.

New member here (I joined yesterday)

Sat today (first time doing Zazen!)

Gassho (right??),
Brian

[Amelia]

Welcome, Brian!

Gassho (this is a verbal indication of holding our hands palm-to-palm, kind of like saying, "Namaste!")
Sat, lah

[Kaye]

No goals.
kaye

[BrianK]

Thank you, Geika!

Gassho,
Brian

[Kaye]

Gassho. It will take me some time to understand how to navigate the site and the posts. Thank you for your patience with me. kaye

[Bion]

Gassho. It will take me some time to understand how to navigate the site and the posts. Thank you for your patience with me. kaye

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