Teachings Practices from other Schools / Traditions

[Jundo]

Re: Teachings Practices from other Schools / Traditions

I hope you won't mind me resurrecting an old thread. I have been faithfully sitting shikantaza and will continue to learn more about the tradition as time goes on but I still practice metta and anapanasati each morning and do puja in the Theravada style. I don't foresee me letting go of these at present but would be interested to know what, if any, the drawbacks may be of practicing in this way. Metta to all!

Mike

Hi Mike,

Here is my personal feeling on this ...

We also encourage everyone in our Sangha to practice a recital of Metta each day ...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1199

... and we have other folks around here who are Zennies while also Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, chanting to Amida or Thor and the like.

So long as one sits (and is sat by) Shikantaza each day, Whole and Complete, Sacred and Still, with not one thing to add or take away, no other practice needed (not while seated anyway) to make being there more Whole and Complete ... not any other place to be, not one other thing to do in all time and space in that moment of sitting ...

... then when one rises from the cushion, one may wash the dishes or watch TV, have salad for lunch or a sandwich, pray to Jesus or not, chant to Amida or not, engage in anapanasati breath awareness meditation or not, take a doctor's medicine for a bad kidney or not, engage in Puja (acts of devotion) such as bowing or making offerings or not (and finding the sacredness of life and Buddha in other ways of expression ... e.g., I do not see any distinction myself between the sacred act of lighting incense on an altar and the sacred act of changing my daughter's soiled diaper, but that is just my personal feeling and I practice both!).

Hopefully, at some point, the "to the marrow" Wholeness and Completeness and "nothing more in need of obtaining or attaining-ness" of Shikantaza will come to underlay and bring to life all of that ... from washing dishes, to praying or not, to breathing, to changing diapers, to chanting metta ... all of life, on and off the cushion, not separate.

I hope that answers the question.

Gassho, J

[Khalil Bodhi]

Re: Teachings Practices from other Schools / Traditions

Rev. J,

I truly appreciate your kind response. That definitely helps! Mettaya!

Gassho,

Mike

[Rev R]

Re: Teachings Practices from other Schools / Traditions

What will a man do with three shoes?

juggle

[Madrone]

Re: Teachings Practices from other Schools / Traditions

All practices is essentially the same, all practice essentially leads to the same goal; to have a happy more compassionate life. But the philosophies are very different. This difference is there because there are many different types of people. What works for one,won't work for another. And all because a practice worked for you once doesn't mean it is always going to work in every instance. I think exploring other practices, and even other religions can be good. It's a good reminder that despite all the outside difference, we are all trying to do the same thing...

Just my thoughts....

Gassho

Seiryu

Seiryu, I like what you say here. I think it is important to learn about different ideas and approaches to practice. I also think it is important ultimately to pick an approach that works and really stick with it. Maybe these somehow go hand-in-hand.

Nobody here suggests that folks should avoid even reading about other approaches and practices, correct? There must be some possibility of beneficial cross fertilization of ideas. If we are to light unto ourselves mustn't we have the discretion and maturity to decide what is and is not beneficial and skillful?