One-pointedness.

[Janne H]

Re: One-pointedness.

I´ve read some of his dharma talks from: http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/dh ... ngyen.html

Are there different traditions in China, like Rinzai and Soto in Japan?

[disastermouse]

Re: One-pointedness.

I´ve read some of his dharma talks from: http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/dh ... ngyen.html

Are there different traditions in China, like Rinzai and Soto in Japan?

Not really sure.

You can also get a lot from Steve Hagen's stuff. 'Buddhism Plain and Simple' is a good 'un.

Chet

[Jundo]

Re: One-pointedness.

Please have a look at our suggested book list:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=889

I have tried to mark with ** those books recommended for beginners and any folks new to “Just Sitting” and our style of Zazen here at Treeleaf and Soto Zen. New folks would do very well to just read down the list of ** books.

Master Sheng-yen, by the way, is a wonderful teacher who left this visible world this year, and I do love his writings and especially "The Method of No Method". He also had his own flavor and perspective, sometimes a little differently focused from the emphasis here (I find that his view of "Silent Illumination" can be very close to, but sometimes a bit different from "Just Sitting" Shikantaza, as Sheng-yen often emphasises ... in some of his writings on Silent Illumination anyway, although not so much in others ... attaining various states of deep concentration as the ultimate objective. He is also someone who practiced both Koan Zazen and Silent Illumination at the same time, and who mixed and matched some other perspectives into his Buddhism such as a devotional Pure Land flavor ... and that comes through in his writings. In answer to your question, Chinese Buddhism over the centuries has tended to become a blend of Rinzai Zen, a bit of Soto, Esoteric Buddhism, as well as Pure Land and other very devotional practices. Again, not a criticism of just another path up the mountain, but information for the discerning reader of generic "Zen books").

Truly, concentrating on "one point" can expand endlessly into boundless awareness ... and open, boundless awareness is just concentration on 'one great point' which sweeps in all. "Hard" and "soft" styles are just the changing weather, and many paths up the mountain ... including paths, not only within Buddhism, but encompassing paths of other religions and philosophies too. As the guide on this hike, I just recommend the path here as I have practiced it for nearing 30 years and believe it a great and effective path for most mountain climbers seeking the fruits of this practice.

The most important thing is to find the path right for you, however. Try many things, read about and partake in many traditions, then stick to one that resonates with you. Sometimes I like the pure taste of Japanese food, sometimes the variety of Chinese, and on some cold nights spicy Korean or hot Thai. However, Zen practice is a little different from choosing from a menu, in that mixing and matching too much can result in a confused mess. Even mixing and matching the approaches of different Zen teachers too much can result at fingers pointing at the moon in different parts of the sky, and one can get quite dizzy with all the head spinning.

Gassho, Jundo

PS - A wonderful survey of all the different traditions of Zen practice common in the West (although more focused on North America than Europe) is this one ... highly recommended to everyone ...

• Zen Master Who? by James Ford (telling the story of the various Zen Lineages in the West, though mostly the U.S. Look for Jundo Cohen on page 140! plug plug ) **

This old thread on the "Eight Types of Enlightenment" should also be a reference ...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1757

[Janne H]

Re: One-pointedness.

There are many books, even for the beginner. I think that I will begin with Opening the Hand of Thought and The Method of No-Method, is that a good start? I´ve already read The Art of Just Sitting and it was very good, I sometimes return to some paiges in it.

[disastermouse]

Re: One-pointedness.

There are many books, even for the beginner. I think that I will begin with Opening the Hand of Thought and The Method of No-Method, is that a good start? I´ve already read The Art of Just Sitting and it was very good, I sometimes return to some paiges in it.

Some of it may go over your head (Method of No-Method) - mostly because reading about Zen doesn't do much for you if you don't sit zazen.

'Buddhism Plain and Simple' may be more accessible and probably gives fewer conceptual culs-de-sac in which to get lost.

Chet

[Janne H]

Re: One-pointedness.

I do sit about once a day.

EDIT:

I´m new to Soto Zen, not Zen, earlier I have mostly been following Thich Nhat Hanhs teachings.

Is Hagens book about Soto Zen?