Proposal for Sangha Discussion: "SAT TODAY!" - Sitting Before Talking

[Jundo]

Hi all

I must admit I am finding myself increasingly not liking the 'sat today' rule. I pretty much assumed that everyone was sitting regularly anyway and find it odd that someone would not be allowed to post on a particular day if they hadn't sat despite having a regular practice. Although shikantaza is clearly the primary formal practice of Soto Zen, practice takes many forms and some people are only able to sit intermittently due to work and family commitments in which they may be serving their community and loved ones with great compassion and awareness.

To be honest, it feels a bit school teacherish, a bit like the way I ask my kids if they have brushed their teeth before they go out of the door in the morning. We are all adults and are responsible for our own practice. The requirement for daily sitting is already enshrined in the Treeleaf constitution (for want of a better word) so requiring written validation of that seems, to me, a bit superfluous.

Anyway, just my two cents for what it is worth. My resistance to the rule does not mean that I will not work with that and abide with it while I am here. One person's resistance is just that.

Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday

That may be so, Kokuu, but I will continue to ask people to sit ... even for just some minutes ... before coming here to chat, and to note their having done so in their posts.

That does not apply to brand new folks during the first months, people who have struggles with sitting, health issues preventing sitting or the like.

Even if someone is busy, if there is time to chew the fat, there is to to have sat.

Gassho, Jundo (the school teacher)

SatToday

[Myoku]

I feel like Kokuu,
but Jundo is the boss here, and thats a good thing. Actually I feel we have a tremendous freedom about how to practice and interact. And I think its ok to practice, live and chat with this rule.
Gassho
Myoku
sat today

[bayamo]

Hello,

So?


Gassho,
Myosha sat today

Exactly! What gives one way or the other? I'll play along but I don't particularly care for the rule. I know I'm in the minority here, but I just don't think it's anyone's beeswax if one did or didn't. I do understand the reasoning behind it, valid point. It's like seatbelt or helmet laws, some good 'law' that I feel just comes down to personal choice.



Oh yeah, if I didn't have inner peace, I'd completely go psycho on all you guys, all the time. Carl Carlson
#SatToday, done of free will, begrudgingly reported... ;-)

[Kaishin]

On crazy busy days, does a 5-minute informal sit on the edge of the bus seat count? If so, I can imagine very few circumstances where one could not sit every day. Although I have been accused of having limited imagination.

#satToday

[Jundo]

On crazy busy days, does a 5-minute informal sit on the edge of the bus seat count?

Yes, I have sat on many buses, sometimes I have "sat" standing in a crowded Tokyo train.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Jika]

sometimes I have "sat" standing in a crowded Tokyo train.

Thank you for the information!
I commute a lot, and I was wondering if standing-balancing-shikantaza may even be called zazen.

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday

[Daiyo]

I've sat many times in the subway on my way to work.

Didn't know it counts

(just kidding)

Gassho,
Walter

#SatToday

[Jundo]

I've sat many times in the subway on my way to work.

Didn't know it counts

(just kidding)

Gassho,
Walter

#SatToday

I am not talking about simply sitting on the subway, I am speaking of Just Sitting on the subway, on a mountain, in the temple, in the living room, in Times Square, in India or on the farthest star, sitting, standing, walking, running, flying through the air. Understand?

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7684-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%28Part-XXIII%29

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Jika]

Nah, but if downtown Tokio has no earthquake, and if I am lucky and get a seat while commuting I can SIT (I remember very nice zazen videos from Amtrak this summer...).
Standing, grasping for a handhold, while another passenger's backpack is pressed against my nose... well, I thought some kind of practice it must be...

Gassho,
Danny
#sattoday(cushioned, trained, shaken)

[Daiyo]

I am not talking about simply sitting on the subway, I am speaking of Just Sitting on the subway, on a mountain, in the temple, in the living room, in Times Square, in India or on the farthest star, sitting, standing, walking, running, flying through the air. Understand?

Excuse me if I wasn't clear, Jundo.
I was talking about the same thing.
I try to sit zazen many days in the subway, I was not referring to just being sat down.

The kidding was because I wasn't sure it could be considered shikantaza (although I was sitting with that attitude) because its quite different as peacefully sitting at home in my comfortable zafu, in half lotus and with an incense stick and a candle.

Gassho,
Walter.

#SatToday

[Nindo]

Different and not different.

Gassho,
Nindo
sattoday

[elle]

Until this afternoon I wasn't aware that the "sat today" thing was new.
I read this thread and observed that many members were concerned that this would be off-putting to new members.

As a brand new member, I don't think it put me off.
I think I perceived that daily sitting is a very normal activity for everyone around here.
I have felt shy about actually typing the words "sat today" ("is my feeble attempt at this sufficient to count?").
I definitely feel welcome.
I definitely feel that if I am struggling with something that all I need to do is ask for help with it. (struggling with *a lot* of it actually, but lack the vocabulary to explain what the struggle is. As soon as I get a handle on it, I'll let y'all know! Or, maybe by the time I figure out what it is, it will have resolved itself?)

I wasn't here before "sat today". In terms of atmosphere I don't have anything to compare it to.
I can't imagine it being *more* friendly, or *more* supportive, or *more* welcoming.
As far as forums go, this is probably the *most* I've ever experienced in all of those areas.

Gassho
Elle
SatToday

[Kyotai]

I couldn't agree more Elle

Gassho Shawn
Sat today

[Kokuu]

That may be so, Kokuu, but I will continue to ask people to sit ... even for just some minutes ... before coming here to chat, and to note their having done so in their posts.

Even if someone is busy, if there is time to chew the fat, there is to to have sat.

Indeed, Jundo.

Like Myoku, I recognise that I am in a minority here and will of course abide by the rule as it stands.
Sometimes it is good not to always get things our own way and to realise there are other, maybe better, viewpoints.

Elle, I am glad to read that it has not been off-putting to you.

Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday

[MikeTango]

I remember have heard my former Soto zen instructor in Lima telling in the middle of a seshin that the force of the partners keeping sitting in spite of the leg pain, the tiring and etc, that help the others to persist. I think the expression of our daily sitting below our posts could have a similar effect, inspiring to other treeleafers to persist. At least that is the effect on me.
Gassho
Miguel