Zazen?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Murah
    Member
    • May 2007
    • 12

    Zazen?

    I'm pretty new to the whole "Zen experience" and one thing I can't quite seem to understand is Zazen ( or the zen meditation).

    How is this different from all the other meditations out there?

    For the past six months I've been practicing breathing meditation ( anapanasati) without a teacher, so I guess you could say I'm still fairly new to meditation as well..lol.

    Thanks for your input!

    -Murah
  • Bansho
    Member
    • Apr 2007
    • 532

    #2
    Hi Murah,

    Zazen is the complete practice of shila (ethics), samadhi (concentration) and prajna (wisdom), as such it encompasses all aspects of the Eightfold Path. 'Meditation' is actually a misnomer, since Zazen has no specific object of focus, in contrast to most techniques of meditation/contemplation.

    Gassho
    Kenneth
    ??

    Comment

    • Jeff F G F
      Member
      • Dec 2018
      • 5

      #3
      Some outside here won't understand you're idea of "sitting" means anything special

      Mahakashayaka once stood up after a lecture by Gautama Buddha and handed him a flower while smiling. He understood. The point of Buddhism is beyond consciousness. The aim in Soto Zen Buddhism is the firm conviction, beyond consciousness in just sitting. (From near the end of a beginner book on Soto Zen Buddhism, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" part of "Beyond Consciousness", near the end of Part 3 "Right Understanding". The purpose of sitting down somewhere is just to calm down, collect yourself, forget everything for a while!!! And it's so basic, people don't give it a thought, like we do!! Don't tell them!!! :-)
      Attached Files

      Comment

      • Shinshi
        Treeleaf Unsui
        • Jul 2010
        • 3650

        #4
        Hi Murah,

        There is a whole series of talks by Jundo about Zazen that you might find helpful. Here is a link that summarizes the the content of various teachings.

        -- BEGINNER'S MIND Hi, Especially for new folks to Treeleaf, I ask you to sit with our series of talks for "beginners" on the "Sit-a-Long" netcast There are 22 talks in the series, discussing the themes below. We all should maintain a fresh and open "Beginners Mind", moment to moment, no


        I found these really helpful and informative when I started.


        Gassho, Shinshi

        SaT-LaH
        空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
        There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
        -Dogen
        E84I - JAJ

        Comment

        • Jundo
          Treeleaf Founder and Priest
          • Apr 2006
          • 40300

          #5
          Originally posted by Shinshi
          Hi Murah,

          There is a whole series of talks by Jundo about Zazen that you might find helpful. Here is a link that summarizes the the content of various teachings.

          -- BEGINNER'S MIND Hi, Especially for new folks to Treeleaf, I ask you to sit with our series of talks for "beginners" on the "Sit-a-Long" netcast There are 22 talks in the series, discussing the themes below. We all should maintain a fresh and open "Beginners Mind", moment to moment, no


          I found these really helpful and informative when I started.


          Gassho, Shinshi

          SaT-LaH
          Shinshi,

          Congratulations, Shinshi, you just answered a question from Murah that was asked in 2007! Oh, the wonders of our Sangha!

          But, Jeff, do sit with the Beginner's series that Shinshi mentions, and then we can discuss such things. It may be a little more ... and less ... than what you say.

          Gassho, Jundo

          STLah
          ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

          Comment

          • Shinshi
            Treeleaf Unsui
            • Jul 2010
            • 3650

            #6
            Originally posted by Jundo
            Shinshi,

            Congratulations, Shinshi, you just answered a question from Murah that was asked in 2007! Oh, the wonders of our Sangha!

            But, Jeff, do sit with the Beginner's series that Shinshi mentions, and then we can discuss such things. It may be a little more ... and less ... than what you say.

            Gassho, Jundo

            STLah
            Better late than never?

            And, in my defense, I didn't go find a Zombie thread - Jeff F G F - responded today.

            I'll look more closely at the posting dates in each posts in the future.



            Gassho, Shinshi

            SaT-LaH
            Last edited by Shinshi; 01-16-2019, 03:29 AM.
            空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
            There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
            -Dogen
            E84I - JAJ

            Comment

            • Jundo
              Treeleaf Founder and Priest
              • Apr 2006
              • 40300

              #7
              Originally posted by Shinshi
              Better late than never?

              And, in my defense, I didn't go find a Zombie thread - Jeff F G F - responded today.

              I'll look more closely at the posting dates in each posts in the future.



              Gassho, Shinshi

              SaT-LaH
              No need. It is lovely. I just hope that Murah has not been refreshing his browser every few minutes for 11 years waiting for an answer.

              Gassho, Jundo

              STLah
              ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

              Comment

              • Geika
                Treeleaf Unsui
                • Jan 2010
                • 4983

                #8
                Originally posted by Jundo
                No need. It is lovely. I just hope that Murah has not been refreshing his browser every few minutes for 11 years waiting for an answer.

                Gassho, Jundo

                STLah
                too funny.

                Sat today, lah
                求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
                I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

                Comment

                • Shinshi
                  Treeleaf Unsui
                  • Jul 2010
                  • 3650

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Jundo
                  No need. It is lovely. I just hope that Murah has not been refreshing his browser every few minutes for 11 years waiting for an answer.

                  Gassho, Jundo

                  STLah




                  Gassho, Shinshi

                  SaT-LaH
                  空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
                  There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
                  -Dogen
                  E84I - JAJ

                  Comment

                  Working...