the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

[Taigu]

OK guys, I have found this vid which says it all. Every word is in harmony with what I understand of Zen practice. Please be patient and listen to what this guy says, the presentation is boring, the reading very repetitive, what he says is priceless. Every point is a real treasure. I wish more people would be ready to question their sitting and being habits, for once you do it you are ready to live an amazing adventure, the journey of living, never the same, always fresh and new. Not interfering is the key and the challenge. I do it all the time, at least, since meeting my teacher Chodo Cross, I see it. And seing how I mess it up is really priceless.

gassho

Taigu

[youtube]

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[Rich]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Cool. Maybe alexander was an undercover zen master.

[Koshin]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

It´s strange how lately all things come together....I read something about Alexander Technique many many years ago (before Internet :shock: ) and I found it very interesting, but here in Mexico City such kind of classes or teachers are very rare, hard to find or very expensive....now, so many years later, I find it´s somehow related to Zazen, the thing that makes most sense to me in the world.... related to Zazen as almost everything that really made me sense when I was so much younger, when I was so much curious and open minded, things that I forgot all this time. Maybe there is a time where things just fall under its own weight and we are ready to start the path of Zen....

Thankyou Taigu.

Gassho

PS: I wish I was able to express my ideas, English is not my native language ops:

[Jinyo]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

8) thankyou Taigu


Gassho


Willow

[sittingzen]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Thank you for sharing, Taigu.

Gassho,

Lu

[gilles]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

simple
thX Taigu

gassho
gilles

[Taigu]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

There is nothing more difficult than simplicity: undoing bad habits, allowing the fluid and natutal movement of the body without interfering, not being fooled by misperception, staying in this dynamic no-posture...this is so hard. That's why we are eager to find tricks, to print recipes, to give the unknown reference points.

take care


gassho


Taigu

[gilles]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

There is nothing more difficult than simplicity: undoing bad habits, allowing the fluid and natutal movement of the body without interfering, not being fooled by misperception, staying in this dynamic no-posture...this is so hard. That's why we are eager to find tricks, to print recipes, to give the unknown reference points.

take care


gassho


Taigu

oh yes!
thX taigu

gassho
gilles

[Marek]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

There is nothing more difficult than simplicity

So true !

Thank You, Taigu.

_/_

[Koshin]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

That´s right...and we fool ourselves training us in life with bad habits, making so simple being difficult .....anyway, thanks again Taigu, I am already looking for an Alexander Technique teacher because of my back pain due to my really bad posture at standing, walking, working...sitting :wink:

Gassho

[Shohei]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Regardless of presentation gems in every bit of that, thank you!
I sat listening to my self try to force a breath through my now-closed throat when butchering the Heart Sutra through a strained voice when doing the Zazenkai and other things too.
Lots to undo here!

Gassho
Shohei

"Alignment is for cars, we're organic"

[Dokan]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Some definite jewels in there. I especially liked the statement "We are after harmony, not symmetry."

I have found my AT lessons, in a word, liberating. Thanks for sharing Taigu.

Gassho,

Dokan

[Nenka]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

I received the Body, Breath & Being book in the mail yesterday. Interesting! I've been going around paying attention to how I usually walk and sit, taking note of where I hold tension, how I favor my left leg, all kinds of stuff. I look forward to practicing the exercises and maybe find a teacher, if I can. I also hope I can get my husband to do this. I don't know what it is, but he has a lot of back and neck problems (doctors and physical therapy have not proved very helpful.)

Gassho

Jen

[Kaishin]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Thank you, Taigu for this.

Is there any Buddhist culture that has been more obsessed with "correct" posture than Japan? It's interesting that your views seem so contrary to much of what comes out of the Japanese Zen tradition. Thinking of Shujin's recent encounter with the kyosaku "correction," compared with Jundo's experience with the comparatively "anything goes" sitting attitude of the Chinese Ch'an monasteries and my wife's similar experience at a Korean Son center.

Also interesting that dharma heirs of the same ancestor can have such different views! i.e. Brad Warner with his correct-posture-is-everything, lotus-is-essential view, and your and Jundo's more harmonic approach.

Not sure where I'm going with this, ha! Just trying to reconcile all the contrasting elements with respect to my own practice. Anyway, thank you again for this teaching.

_/_

[Jundo]

Re: the truth about posture ( there is no posture)

Also interesting that dharma heirs of the same ancestor can have such different views! i.e. Brad Warner with his correct-posture-is-everything, lotus-is-essential view, and your and Jundo's more harmonic approach.

Ha! Piano students of the same piano teacher, as they mature and come to find their own sound, need not play Brahms exactly the same way as each other or their Teacher. Heck, some may eventually prefer a bit jazzier sound, some Jerry Lee, some punk rock! (Do they play pianos much in punk? :? ) Somewhat different intonations, fingering, somewhat different flavor or emphasis, harmony and disharmony, varying degrees of following or breaking musical tradition and "the rules".

However, all the same piano, same 88 keys, same notes and chords. Hopefully all good music. 8)

As with Brahms, so Buddha. That's how Buddhism through the ages has been as varied as the history of music.

Gassho, J