Hi Morgan,
A bit too intellectual and wordy, so this is the time for the old Zen Teacher cop-out "Go Sit, Find Out".
I will say this. Zazen is only on the Zafu cushion. Zazen is -not- only on the Zafu cushion.
Zazen is only on the Zafu cushion. Sitting on the Zafu is observor and observed and all what have ya. We sit as a sacred act, the only place to be and act in need of doing in that moment of sitting.
Zazen is -not- only on the Zafu cushion. Rising up from the cushion, all is observor and observed and all what have ya. It is such whether we perceive it as such or not. However, usually we do not perceive so with our minds filled with divisive thoughts, although sometimes we can such as your beach moment. Thus, one sits because it is genrally more effective to realize such through a Practice such as Zazen.
As to the Mahayana view of time: The sticks are gone, the footprints are washed away. However, sticks and footprints never come or go. What is more, every grain of sand on the beach and all the stars in the sky each reflect that moment of sticks and footprints (Have you ever heard of Indra's Net, in which every realm of reality is like a jewel or mirror, reflecting and containing and manifesting every other event and corner of reality?). Does that blow your mind?
Well, stop thinking about it now ... Go Sit, Find Out!
Gassho, J
A bit too intellectual and wordy, so this is the time for the old Zen Teacher cop-out "Go Sit, Find Out".
I will say this. Zazen is only on the Zafu cushion. Zazen is -not- only on the Zafu cushion.
Zazen is only on the Zafu cushion. Sitting on the Zafu is observor and observed and all what have ya. We sit as a sacred act, the only place to be and act in need of doing in that moment of sitting.
Zazen is -not- only on the Zafu cushion. Rising up from the cushion, all is observor and observed and all what have ya. It is such whether we perceive it as such or not. However, usually we do not perceive so with our minds filled with divisive thoughts, although sometimes we can such as your beach moment. Thus, one sits because it is genrally more effective to realize such through a Practice such as Zazen.
As to the Mahayana view of time: The sticks are gone, the footprints are washed away. However, sticks and footprints never come or go. What is more, every grain of sand on the beach and all the stars in the sky each reflect that moment of sticks and footprints (Have you ever heard of Indra's Net, in which every realm of reality is like a jewel or mirror, reflecting and containing and manifesting every other event and corner of reality?). Does that blow your mind?
Well, stop thinking about it now ... Go Sit, Find Out!
Gassho, J
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