Shikantaza Feels So Good

[Shujin]

This morning I sat with knee pain and head full of dark thoughts and half remembered dreams that rise up at that time, pre-coffee.

I can’t say it was particularly peaceful, but that’s how Zazen often is for me; thundery clouds on a dark night, with occasional glimpses of the starlit sky through gaps.

Satlah
Myojin

[Jundo]

thundery clouds on a dark night, with occasional glimpses of the starlit sky through gaps.

Sometimes there is only sky. We are this sky.

Sometimes there are clouds, with glimpses of sky.

Sometimes there are only clouds, not a hint of sky. At those times, we must keep trust in our bones that the sky is still there, even though not seen.

For the sky is always there, seen or unseen, on even the stormiest day ...

... and (though hard to realize sometimes) even the clouds are just the sky.

We need not demand to always see the open sky, and that there are never clouds.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Guest]

One of the very first video talks I ever made at Treeleaf, now lost to time I think, was me trying to quiet and still a bowl of swirling water by slapping the water down, then trying to push down the waves with my hand. Of course, that just made more waves and disturbance.

Then, I just left it alone, and it settled on its own.

I should redo that old skit.

Gassho, J

stlah

This used to come up in Aikido classes when describing to to keep one-point (臍下の一点), you can no longer force it than you can still water with your hands, you just have to stop fussing.

For some reason this comes to mind: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G7gWTt...aW5nIGpvY2s%3D

Sattday
Myojin