Sitting without sitting, just like a rock...

[Ankai]

Doing some yardwork today, found a rock. It's about the size of a soccer ball.
It just sits there. But not really. It makes no conscious choice to sit; It's not "doing" it simply IS. It sits there with no thought of sitting there at all.
It's sitting... But not actually "sitting."
...thats where id like to take my practice.
Sat today...

-Karl

[Jundo]

Doing some yardwork today, found a rock. It's about the size of a soccer ball.
It just sits there. But not really. It makes no conscious choice to sit; It's not "doing" it simply IS. It sits there with no thought of sitting there at all.
It's sitting... But not actually "sitting."
...thats where id like to take my practice.
Sat today...

-Karl

Hey, you and your rock are stealing my bit, Karl!

Dear All,

We invited Stone Roshi for a visit, to offer 'rock solid' wisdom which humans have forgotten ...

I ask the HARD questions of this Ancient Master ... who was around and teaching a million years before Buddha ...

https://youtu.be/_qzQx_x0fnw

Thank you for these Teachings, Stone Roshi. You are invited to visit us any time.

A chip off the old block.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Seiko]

Doing some yardwork today, found a rock. It's about the size of a soccer ball.
It just sits there. But not really. It makes no conscious choice to sit; It's not "doing" it simply IS. It sits there with no thought of sitting there at all.
It's sitting... But not actually "sitting."
...thats where id like to take my practice.
Sat today...

-Karl

"In this superior activity of no-mind the wooden figure sings and the stone maiden dances."

(Hōkyōzanmai)

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah

[Ankai]

Lol and here I was, feeling all profound and all...

ST

[Guest]

Sitting without sitting, just like a rock...

A profound rock.
Gassho
Daiman
St

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Risho]

Doing some yardwork today, found a rock. It's about the size of a soccer ball.
It just sits there. But not really. It makes no conscious choice to sit; It's not "doing" it simply IS. It sits there with no thought of sitting there at all.
It's sitting... But not actually "sitting."
...thats where id like to take my practice.
Sat today...

-Karl

A rock has no choice; you do. So your sitting is way better

gassho

risho
-stlah

[Bion]

Sitting without sitting, just like a rock...

A rock has no choice; you do. So your sitting is way better

gassho

risho
-stlah

Is there better or worse when sitting is just sitting? [emoji3526] Master Dogen actually calls practicing like a rock or a tree a MIRACLE [emoji1]

[emoji1374] Sat Today lah

[Risho]

ha! they’re also great listeners

[Guest]

I knew that Uchiyama Roshi said something about this, and I found it in Opening the Hand of Thought. I thought I would share it here, if that is appropriate.

Imagine placing a large rock next to a person doing zazen. Since this rock is not alive, no matter how long it sits there, a thought will never occur to it. Unlike the rock, however, the person doing zazen next to it is a living human being. Even if we sit as stationary as the rock, we cannot say that no thoughts will occur. On the contrary, if they did not, we would have to say that that person is no longer alive. But, of course, the truth of life never means to become lifeless like the rock. For that reason, thoughts ceasing to occur is not the ideal state of one sitting zazen. It is perfectly natural that thoughts occur. Yet, if we chase after thoughts, we are thinking and no longer doing zazen. So what should our attitude be? Briefly, aiming at maintaining the posture of zazen with our flesh and bones, letting go of thoughts, is the most appropriate expression for describing what our attitude should be. What is letting go of thoughts? Well, when we think, we think of something. Thinking of something means grasping that some- thing with thought. However, during zazen we open the hand of thought that is trying to grasp something, and simply refrain from grasping. This is letting go of thoughts.

Gassho,
Daiman
St/LAH

[Douglas]

Doing some yardwork today, found a rock. It's about the size of a soccer ball.
It just sits there. But not really. It makes no conscious choice to sit; It's not "doing" it simply IS. It sits there with no thought of sitting there at all.
It's sitting... But not actually "sitting."
...thats where id like to take my practice.
Sat today...

-Karl

Rocks express their essence as rocks. They are true to their nature. You are a human, not a rock. You should also be true to your nature as a human. If you try to imitate the rocks in your zazen, you are not being authentic.

I think I understand your point of view, though and what you are getting at. I like to use living things as inspiration. My cat is a good example. Cats seem to practice zazen all day (when they are not sleeping!). Of course, they do it in their own cat way. - Maybe I should join my cat in the same room when she sits, and learn from her!

- Sat Today

[Douglas]

I knew that Uchiyama Roshi said something about this, and I found it in Opening the Hand of Thought. I thought I would share it here, if that is appropriate.



Gassho,
Daiman
St/LAH

HA! You responded with the section that I was thinking of when I responded but couldn't find it.

Thank you!!

-Sat today

[Jundo]

... You should also be true to your nature as a human. If you try to imitate the rocks in your zazen, you are not being authentic.

Alas, it is aspects of our human nature ... the greed, anger, ignorance, searching, clinging, divided thinking ... that get us into much trouble, and that Zazen is a medicine for.

No, we are not rocks, but we should find a like stillness, stability and non-searching within us, our own solid yet flowing foundation.

Gassho, J

stlah