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I've been reading a lot about the sitting part of Zazen, but I have not seen quite so much about bowing. I have read the section in Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind about bowing, and found it interesting. I wonder if anyone else has anything else to offer about it.
I seem to remember that Jundo recorded a teaching about bowing and/or how to do prostrations. For the life of me I cannot find it this morning. If i do I'll post the link. It's in the "Talk & Teaching" section somewhere and would probably be a good start?
We have some "bowing practice", and discussion of the many ways of seeing and "just bowing" bowing, in preparation for our annual retreat ... where there are times of prostrating (Raihai), done in a series or three (Sanpai) ...
Many Westerners don't care for it, because it is not part of our culture generally. We see it as humiliating, embarrassing, somehow "idol worshipping" or undemocratic. I am often asked to whom or what we are bowing ... Is it to some thing, god, place like Mecca, person or effigy?
I answer by saying that there is nothing that's true that is omitted from our bow. We might consider that we're simply bowing to the whole universe, and to ourself and the other people around us … after all, 'All is One'! The hands, palms upwards, are raised in a gesture traditionally symbolic of lifting the Buddha's feet over one's head, but that truly means lifting all things of the universe over one's head. It's appropriate to cultivate an attitude of emptying, letting go, receptivity and gratitude in our bows.
If there is some physical or personal reason not to prostrate, a simple Gassho can be substituted. However, there is greatness in the humility of the prostration.
No less, are we raising something up or ... seen another way ... is the whole world raising us up at the same time?
The Korean Zen folks are very big with the Prostrations, often recommending at least 108 each day.
It is a powerful physical Practice. These days, I usually practice a deep Gassho during our Zazenkai and such. However, I engage in Prostrations also, during our more formal monthly Zazenkai and like times.
Many Tibetans (many Christians pilgrims too) will travel for hundreds of miles, prostrating with each step ...
Your post reminded me of some words from a commentary on The Heart Sutra (An Arrow to the Heart by Ken McLeod). I am not sure if they address what you are wanting but they always strike me deeply.
Some worship a golden goddess
With four arms, a book and a rosary -
Expecting, perhaps to be freed from pain.
Some worship a collection of sacred tomes
Full of subtle concepts and subtler logic -
Confident, perhaps, in the power of reason.
Some worship bliss, clarity, emptiness,
Or other altered states -
Convinced, perhaps, that there is something to gain.
Bowing/prostrations, are a very powerful practice. They were difficult at first, especially when it involved bowing before another person, but then it became a big relief to do that. A teacher described the practice to me as being like water flowing down to the lowest point, being the lowest point, and giving up and up to everything. Taking the precepts (in the Korean Zen tradition) involved doing many prostrations, culminating in the precept ceremony where the sangha did 500, lead by a very physically fit priest. That was a special effort of devotion to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha... maybe like sowing. Recently I have not been doing much bowing, just sitting then running to deal with the day. I miss it,.. miss the surrender.
In my very personal point of view, bowing is a way to understand I am not the center of the universe. It's a reminder that humility is a core value of my practice.
Getting my head low to the floor is a way to show respect for all living beings.
I enjoy the bowing practice, especially full prostrations. It's hard not to feel "grounded" in humility when you are, in fact, on the ground. Bowing to all of you on my lunch break today, as I check in from lovely Newark, NJ.
'If there is some physical or personal reason not to prostrate, a simple Gassho can be substituted. However, there is greatness in the humility of the prostration.'
That's good to know - vertigo is a daily challenge for me. I think it's possible to feel deep humility if the focus is there with a simple gassho - and maybe to just sit quietly with a sense of that.
Bowing is like ...
Hiding a heron in the moonlight
As the Jewel Mirror Samadhi states,
No traces left, image and source touching, meeting, endlessly and selflessly rising
Gassho
T.
PS: i might add that it is also great practice after sitting, allowing a gentle stretch and release of the spine.
I have just started bowing and, as a Westerner, it does feel a bit strange. But, as others have already said, the purpose is not to bow before some supernatural deity, but to remain humble.
Bowing is like ...
Hiding a heron in the moonlight
As the Jewel Mirror Samadhi states,
No traces left, image and source touching, meeting, endlessly and selflessly rising
Gassho
T.
PS: i might add that it is also great practice after sitting, allowing a gentle stretch and release of the spine.
I have found the same thing. (Especially since I need to add some more filling to my Zafu).
The idea of bowing is important to me. The selflessness of it all. I've always struggled on the fine line between self deprecation and humility, (If there is such a thing) and I find bowing to be a very honest expression of that humility.
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