Does practice change what we need to be fulfilled human beings?

[MikeTango]

Thank you so much Jundo for sharing us your personal view about Zen practice “life consequences”.
I know that every person is different, but for me, your post provides a kind of practical “map” of what we could find with our practice. But of course, just after 20 or 30 years of consistent zazen, (which coincides with Joko Beck´s six stages of practice).

Gassho

Miguel
#Sat Today

[Jundo]

Thank you so much Jundo for sharing us your personal view about Zen practice “life consequences”.
I know that every person is different, but for me, your post provides a kind of practical “map” of what we could find with our practice. But of course, just after 20 or 30 years of consistent zazen, (which coincides with Joko Beck´s six stages of practice).

Gassho

Miguel
#Sat Today

Oh no. I found the benefits from the first hour I began this Practice, and those benefits have continued and deepened since. That is why I have stayed with this for 30 years. The 30 years were not a matter of waiting, but of nurturing.

I was in graduate school, my head filled with facts and debate, no confidence, no direction, lost, feeling fears for the future, suffering from the past, dissatisfaction with the present, deeply depressed, hopeless, so dark.

Found a sitting group at the university where the leader just said to sit, to drop all that away for a time. The contrast between the noise and stillness, resistance and harmony was obvious from the start. (See the "noisy blenders" and "hitting oneself in the head with a hammer" analogies ... feels so good to just stop for a time) ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7705-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%28Part-I%29

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7704-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%28Part-II%29

... the "moving forward, while every step by step total arrival just here" was also a help for a life that was lost ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?7701-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%28Part-V%29

Of course, it took some time to get better at this Practice (we can all always be better, Better until Buddha**), but that is why we call this "Practice".

Gassho, Jundo

** For folks who might ask: In Zen Buddhism, there is not one thing to attain, for we are each all Buddha from the start ... out of one eye anyway. But also, we are imperfect beings who need to realize (make real) our Buddha nature in each moment, and get better at it. A fellow practicing for an hour is Buddha, as is someone practicing for a lifetime (or lifetimes if one believes so) ... but the latter fellow is probably lifetimes more experienced at being so.

[Oheso]

thank you Sensei, gassho, O, who sat today

[RichardH]

Thank you, Jundo. ..... can't think of anything else to say...


Daizan
sat today

[Joyo]

Thank you Jundo, for sharing this today and for all that you do here at Treeleaf. It has helped me in more ways than I could even describe.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Sekishi]

Wonderful thread. Nine bows.
Sekishi
#Sattoday

[Jakugan]

Thank you for this thread. Deep bows.

Gassho,

Simon

Sat today

[Myosha]

Hello,

Thank you for the moment.


Gassho
Myosha sat today

[Meishin]

Yes thank you.

Gassho
Meishin
Sat today

[Kyotai]

Thank you Daizan

For me this practice has opened a door to my experience of this life. I am fulfilled when I have a chance to help someone. When I play a silly game with my kids or sometimes driving to work. Less and less I feel like I am putting in time.

I think I am fulfilled by the small moments in life when I pay attention to them. That certainly was not the case before I began sitting.

Gassho, Kyotai
Sat today

[BrianL]

Some wonderful thoughts, here!

For me, practice was never about withdrawing. I sat to get 'enlightenment' (I've always been a 'seeker'), and instead discovered that my mind was always busy creating (and defending against) conflict. This was a lot more interesting than my fantasies of kensho, and led to wondering: If it is really just me creating all this antagonism, who are these people around me if I don't view them through that lens? And that let to a little more openness to others, interest in their experience of life, and some desire to help where I might. I find myself much more engaged than before, but not so fixated on a particular viewpoint or outcome.

For me, zazen hasn't changed what I need to be fulfilled, but rather made it more accessible.

Brian
satoday

[Josan]

Thank you Jundo for the wonderful teaching and to Daizan for starting this wonderful thread ,
Gassho,
David

sattoday

[alan.r]

Good thread. Thanks, Daizan, and all.

My own small experience is like Jundo's: a mess of depression and overthinking and cynicism toward the world and sometimes anger and just general boredom, a lack of meaning. Not that I've found "meaning" now, but zazen changed my attitude about myself, which was one of superiority veiled by a cynically bored and depressed response to what I perceived to be the meaninglessness and vapidity of culture and society (I still don't "like" much, or most, of US culture, but it's also nothing to wallow in now, just something to see and let go of). Had to go through that. I'm grateful for it. The strangest part of earnestly sitting was that "I" knew immediately it was changing things and "knew" immediately that change was always "in" "me." (sorry for all the quotes, lol)

Gassho,
Alan
sattoday

[Erik de Heiden]

Hi Elgwyn,

4.30 pm I suppose? That is very much around the time I do my evening meditation here in the Netherlands. I always sit for half an hour then. Just invite me, there is always a good chance I will pop in.

SAT2day