There it is....!

[dharmasponge]

Hello everyone,


I have noticed recently that when sitting there is a sense of sudden excitement after the mind settles - usually around 20mins in


It fractures and forces a sudden jolt out of any concentrated state that may have arisen....a little like


"....letting go...letting go........letting go..................letting go..................................'THERE IT IS...!!!'


Anyone else experience anything similar? Its not good as sitting then becomes really uncomfortable and agitated evoking a wish to stop the session at that point.


Thanks for your thoughts...

[Kokuu]

Hello

Yes, I often have this experience of the mind settling about 10-20 minutes in but, hey, that is just part of zazen. For a long time I saw my thoughts about zazen and what was happening to be a special case of thoughts but now I just treat them the same as thinking about what is for dinner.

Agitation is likewise something to be sat with. Sure, sitting is not as pleasant as when uncomfortable sensations are absent but we sit to be present rather than to experience niceness! I am sure you know that, though.

I don't know how long you have been sitting but you get used to your own rhythm of zazen and the 'THERE IT IS!' voice becomes quieter as the shifts and patterns become more familiar.

Gassho
Andy

[Meikyo]

Hello

Yes, I often have this experience of the mind settling about 10-20 minutes in but, hey, that is just part of zazen. For a long time I saw my thoughts about zazen and what was happening to be a special case of thoughts but now I just treat them the same as thinking about what is for dinner.

Agitation is likewise something to be sat with. Sure, sitting is not as pleasant as when uncomfortable sensations are absent but we sit to be present rather than to experience niceness! I am sure you know that, though.

I don't know how long you have been sitting but you get used to your own rhythm of zazen and the 'THERE IT IS!' voice becomes quieter as the shifts and patterns become more familiar.

Gassho
Andy

Exactly what Andy said! Other than agreeing with that I just wanted to say; I feel you. You're not alone in this. Every time stuff like that comes up I use it as a motivation to keep on just sitting.

[Jundo]

Hello

Yes, I often have this experience of the mind settling about 10-20 minutes in but, hey, that is just part of zazen. For a long time I saw my thoughts about zazen and what was happening to be a special case of thoughts but now I just treat them the same as thinking about what is for dinner.

Agitation is likewise something to be sat with. Sure, sitting is not as pleasant as when uncomfortable sensations are absent but we sit to be present rather than to experience niceness! I am sure you know that, though.

I don't know how long you have been sitting but you get used to your own rhythm of zazen and the 'THERE IT IS!' voice becomes quieter as the shifts and patterns become more familiar.

Gassho
Andy

What Andy said.

[dharmasponge]

Thanks!

[Taigu]

Dear Andy,

your name is Kokuu? is' nt it? Space, if I red Shobogenzo well ( you know I can hardly read, do spell badly, mind you I am a true dyslexic boy or just a French guy with a dreadful spelling)

So tell me, where does it start, where does it end? measured in minutes?

just questions.

gassho


Taigu


PS: Don't take any notice, not worth it.

[Kokuu]

Dear Taigu

I believe that kokuu does translate as space and I asked Jundo about that after Jukai. However, the two characters he chose koku 黒 and u 烏 mean black crow.

At least, that is easier to determine where it starts and ends, from beak to tail. Although, then again, maybe not.

Gassho
Andy/Kokuu

[Joyo]

As other have said, I have had the same experience, and it always seems to be at that 20 min mark. I'll glance over at the clock, and sure enough, 20 min has gone by. I just continue to sit for the remainder of the 10 min as best I can, and then let it go as best I can.

Gassho,
Joyo

[Taigu]

Beautiful name, Kokuu.

My issue is what space is saying not space itself.

Gassho


Taigu

[Byokan]

excitement/concentration = not two
10 minutes/20 minutes/forever = illusion
all is well

Gassho
Lisa

[Jishin]

I don't get a damn thing out of Zazen.

Gassho, Jishin

[Amelia]

Customers lined out the door today. One customer... two... two hundred... at first seems a bother... but really, no difference between 3 and 30. I still get to go home at some point.

[Nengyo]

As other have said, I have had the same experience, and it always seems to be at that 20 min mark. I'll glance over at the clock, and sure enough, 20 min has gone by. I just continue to sit for the remainder of the 10 min as best I can, and then let it go as best I can.

Gassho,
Joyo

Sometimes, when this happens to me, I will just tell myself that one minute of zazen is all of zazen. Helps me get back to the task of zazening, instead of worrying about time.

[Taigu]

I really like your not a damn thing , Jishin, so intimate with the origin.

Gassho

Taigu

[Kokuu]

My issue is what space is saying not space itself.

Infinitely vast, space cannot be measured by clock or ruler.
It holds all things yet nothing resides there.
As body and mind drop away
So there is space.
This morning space speaks with the voice of a cuckoo.
Then nothing.


Gassho
Andy