Spacing out...

[Meishin]

Hi,

I feel your pain. Same thing when I was working in a koan-centered practice. For a long time. What finally helped (along with the passage of time on the cushion and "in life") was when my teacher said, "You're making a problem where there isn't a problem. This isn't rocket science." That may not be relevant to you, but it was as if a heavy weight fell off this back after that. Just swimming with the koans after that.

Not much difference really between koans and what you're describing, At least as this newbie sees it.

Gassho
John

[dharmasponge]

Thanks so much for your patience everyone. I wish I could reestablish 'Beginners' mind again. Things seemed so simple then

[Entai]

I'm an over-thinker too. I have to remind myself from time to time that I don't have to figure it out. There's no law saying I need to figure out anything. Plus, how on earth could I expect to "figure out" reality? It's an unrealistic goal. That's why people say there is "nothing" to do or "nothing" to say. It's not a clever "zenny" phrase... It's because there is literally nothing outside of reality. Hang in there, we are always beginners...

[dharmasponge]

Entai, something you said has really hit home. I was at a monastery I stay at recently (Theravadin) and whilst sitting I glimpsed something that I'm struggling to articulate at the moment. The closest I can get is it was a sense of not needing to change anything. I was already experiencing all that I needed to experience. Does that make sense? A bit like not needing to change anything as it was sufficiently profound just as it was.

[Jundo]

Entai, something you said has really hit home. I was at a monastery I stay at recently (Theravadin) and whilst sitting I glimpsed something that I'm struggling to articulate at the moment. The closest I can get is it was a sense of not needing to change anything. I was already experiencing all that I needed to experience. Does that make sense? A bit like not needing to change anything as it was sufficiently profound just as it was.

Well, perhaps now you are finally not getting somewhere ... or finally somegetwhereing ... wheregetsomeing.

Gassho. J

[dharmasponge]

Maybe....maybe not.... _/|\_

[dharmasponge]

I get a sense that there is nothing NO(thing) outside of what is already there. Is this the carrot on the end of the stick...?


A bit like I have been looking to get a bus to Somerset....whilst standing in Somerset.


The irony is realizing this is starting to feel like arriving at where I wanted to be...but not by traveling....!


Oh No! It can't be that simple....!

[Jundo]

Hi Folks. The Forum is closed this week for Retreat. Please refrain from posting and Just Sit! Gassho, J