The Fine line of Letting Go and Suppressing

[Joryu]

Thank you Thank you Thank you Tiwala You voiced everything I have been thinking lately. And thank you to everyone that answered.

[Troy]

Great post! Thank you

[Shinshi]

I think that the responses here have been amazing. Since I've wondered about these issues too I'd like to add my related thoughts to see what people think.

Often in reading about shikantaza it seems to often be described as you did in your first paragraph. To borrow from your post: "Nothing else to do. Immediately when a thought comes, we return without analysis or reflection (accurate?) to "everything and nothing" and sit there and be content with whatever state we find ourselves in." That is how I used to think about it too.

But lately I think the last part of the sentence should read: "and sit there and be awake with whatever state we find ourselves in". Lately it seems to me that when we sit we strip all the delusion away, and become awake to what is before us, we come to see more clearly.

When we sit we often strip it all away and then there is nothing left. So we strip away the worries, and perceptions, and delusions and we find contentment - we awaken to contentment. But in other cases we strip away all the delusions and there is something that needs to be dealt with! Shikantaza allows us to see more clearly what we need to do.

It isn't about passive acceptance, it is about cutting through delusion so that we can better see how to proceed.

I now believe that Zen allows you to come fully alive - vibrant. Fully awake to your life.

Maybe a different way to say this is that I now see shikantaza as a polishing cloth. It polishes our thinking, making it shine. Rubbing out the imperfections. Then we can see more deeply what needs to be done in the moment to deal with whatever life presents to us. Not just accepting it, but engaging it with clarity and awareness.

Just my .02 cents.

[Tb]

Hi.

Sit with the actual tiger!

Thank you Tiwala, all in this thread and Chet, wonderful!

Mtfbwy
Fugen

[Jundo]

Lovely Shoshin!

I do not think that Zazen always tells us what needs to be done in the moment to deal with what life presents. It may help us listen to our hearts more, which may help our decision making and finding a good course ... but sometimes the heart is foolish nonetheless.

But Zazen is sure to teach us what needs to be non-done and nothing in need of doing. Whatever choice one ends up making or not making, nothing was done and just be there. We may have much to polish all to find there was no place for dust to alight from the first. In such way one sits Awake and Clear.

Gassho J

[Shinshi]

Lovely Shoshin!

I do not think that Zazen always tells us what needs to be done in the moment to deal with what life presents. It may help us listen to our hearts more, which may help our decision making and finding a good course ... but sometimes the heart is foolish nonetheless.

But Zazen is sure to teach us what needs to be non-done and nothing in need of doing. Whatever choice one ends up making or not making, nothing was done and just be there. We may have much to polish all to find there was no place for dust to alight from the first. In such way one sits Awake and Clear.

Gassho J

Thank you Jundo,

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again.

Gassho

Allan

[Geika]

Thank you, Jundo