Opening the Hand of No-Thought

[Anthony]

Sorry for running long. Lately during zazen I've been experiencing what I am currently calling "grasping no-thought". In zazen, we are often taught to "open the hand of thought" and let your thoughts come and go without grasping them and going down the chain from thought to thought.

But I just realized a few moments ago that sometimes I have the opposite problem. I'll be in a state of equanimity and awareness and I'll notice that I'm in such a state and I try to grasp onto it. "I gotta keep this state of mind! Can't let this go, I finally have it! Gotta stay like this! etc". As you might predict, this has the opposite effect. I inevitably lose this state, my mind becomes more agitated, and my muscles become tight.

So maybe sometimes I need to try to "open the hand of no-thought". As is often said, zazen is nothing special and by grasping like this, I am making a distinction between thought and no-thought, unenlightened and enlightened, when really there is no such distinction. Thought and no-thought both just are.

Just something I noticed today and wanted to share in case anyone has had a similar experience.

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

[Choujou]

“So maybe sometimes I need to try to "open the hand of no-thought". As is often said, zazen is nothing special and by grasping like this, I am making a distinction between thought and no-thought, unenlightened and enlightened, when really there is no such distinction. Thought and no-thought both just are.

Just something I noticed today and wanted to share in case anyone has had a similar experience.

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

Hi Anthony,

I think you nailed it…the thoughts come and go as they come and go and we pay it no never mind! ( as Jundo would say) When there is “no-thought”, we just sit with that too. I have a tendency to do the same sometimes… or when I experience that open awareness, I start thinking “oooooo I’m in open awareness!” And then I’m not! The brain is a funny thing… but when you think about it, thoughts are nothing but the product of the brain, much like a heartbeat from the heart or your lungs breathing in air and exhaling carbon dioxide. The brain breathes in our experiences and exhales judgements, distinctions, thoughts… which also trigger emotions… and we let it all flow through and away.

I’ve posted this before, but sometimes I use this gatha I created to remind myself:

The stomach digests
the lungs breathe
the heart beats
and the brain thinks,
…and I am pure awareness.

Gassho,
Choujou

sat/lah today

[Onsho]

People are remarkably good at having extraordinary events turn to ordinary events after time. There is wisdom and not taking things for granted. Conversely, there may be wisdom in taking them for granted too.

Gassho
Onsho
satlah

[Jundo]

Man goes to doctor, says "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." Doctor says "Then don't do that!”

Don't grab at thoughts, don't grab at silence, don't run from thoughts, don't run from silence. Sit disentangled from thoughts and from silence.

The clear open boundless sky is still the clear open boundless sky whether there are passing clouds or no passing clouds, sunny or rain. In fact the clear open boundless sky --IS-- the clouds and the no clouds, the sun and rain ... and clouds, no clouds, sun and rain --ARE-- precisely the sky, although we miss that point. We think that the sky is only the sky when the clouds and rain don't hide it.

Don't clutch at the sky.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shoshin]

Sorry for running long. Lately during zazen I've been experiencing what I am currently calling "grasping no-thought". In zazen, we are often taught to "open the hand of thought" and let your thoughts come and go without grasping them and going down the chain from thought to thought.

But I just realized a few moments ago that sometimes I have the opposite problem. I'll be in a state of equanimity and awareness and I'll notice that I'm in such a state and I try to grasp onto it. "I gotta keep this state of mind! Can't let this go, I finally have it! Gotta stay like this! etc". As you might predict, this has the opposite effect. I inevitably lose this state, my mind becomes more agitated, and my muscles become tight.

So maybe sometimes I need to try to "open the hand of no-thought". As is often said, zazen is nothing special and by grasping like this, I am making a distinction between thought and no-thought, unenlightened and enlightened, when really there is no such distinction. Thought and no-thought both just are.

Just something I noticed today and wanted to share in case anyone has had a similar experience.

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

Thanks for your question. It describes exactly what's happening to me lately too and the answers are helpful for.me.

Gassho,
Satlah

[Guest]

Every once in awhile I try to do zazen the "wrong" way. But the only way you can do that is by doing somebody else's zazen, and that's just weird.

_/\_
sat/ah
hōsai

[DallasP]

This is something I caught myself doing just this morning. I didn’t realize I was doing it until after my sit was over but, now that I’ve caught it, I can let go of trying to seek or cling to it as well. It’s surprisingly challenging, learning how to “just sit.”

Gassho, Dallas
SatLaH

[Onki]

Hi Anthony,

Such great awareness of what your mind is doing.

It’s a fine balancing act between thoughts consuming your mind or no thoughts tightly being held onto for dear life while sitting.

When thoughts do arise, it’s cool to notice “There is a thought.” That’s all. Notice it and carry on sitting. The same goes for grasping No Thought. Notice “No thought”, and carry on sitting. No clinging, no grasping. Not trying to hold onto not having thoughts or visa versa.

Thoughts and No Thoughts will inevitably pop up as that is what our silly brains do. However, there is nothing to grasp or to hold onto.

Sit. Breathe. Notice but don’t get lost or caught up in Thought or No Thought.

I hope this makes sense.

Gasshō,

On

[Onken]

Hi,

I don’t think there is a wrong/bad practice. For me, I sit, sometimes i reach that samadhi where everything drops in a deep state. I don’t even remember those moments if that makes sense. Other times, I grab onto thoughts, but I refocus and sweep them away, again and again. Maybe return to that deep place, maybe not. Each moment is new and we are reborn. Just keep on keeping on.

Gassho,

Onken

Sat/lah