How do you check that your Shyugyou(hard practice) is good direction?

[Kakunen]

My final answer
I am Antaiji and I am not Antaiji.
I am Treeleaf and I am not Treeleaf.

I can create Antaiji and Treeleaf in my mind.So I point my brain and heart.

So just do it and do responsibility.


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[Jundo]

My final answer
I am Antaiji and I am not Antaiji.
I am Treeleaf and I am not Treeleaf.

I can create Antaiji and Treeleaf in my mind.So I point my brain and heart.

So just do it and do responsibility.

Good answer!

Now, who is this "I", what is this "Konan"? Where is this "mind"?

I am I, I am not I. I am not not.

天地与我同根 万物与我一体
Heaven, earth and myself are of one root; all things and myself are of one body.

Gassho, J

[Kakunen]

We search meaning of life ,life is asking us of meaning of life.


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[Jundo]

Life always has meaning. Sometimes we miss that fact, however. Sometimes we are so busy searching for "the meaning of life" that we miss the "meaning" that is life itself.

Just be a gentle and loving person.

山家富貴銀千樹 ～山家の富貴は銀千樹
　漁夫風流玉一蓑 ～漁夫の風流　玉一蓑（さ）
The treasure of a mountain hut, a thousand silver trees.
The jewel of a rustic fisherman, a single straw coat.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kakunen]

Like poet of Kenji Miyazawa
Unbeaten by rain
Unbeaten by wind
Unbowed by the snow and the summer heat
Strong in body
Free from greed
Without any anger
Always serene

With a handful of brown rice a day
Miso and a small amount of vegetables suffice
Whatever happens
Consider yourself last, always put others first
Understand from your observation and experience
Never lose sight of these things

In the shadows of the pine groves in the fields
Live modestly under a thatched roof
In the East, if there is a sick child
Go there and take care of him
In the West, if there is an exhausted mother
Go there and relieve her of her burden
In the South, if there is a man near death
Go there and comfort him, tell him “Don’t be afraid”
In the North, if there is an argument and a legal dispute
Go there and persuade them it’s not worth it

In a drought, shed tears
In a cold summer, carry on
Even with a sense of loss
Being called a fool
Being neither praised nor a burden

Such a person I want to be





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[Jundo]

Lovely.

[Anshu Bryson]

One of my favourite Japanese poems...

Gassho,
Anshu

-sat today-

Like poet of Kenji Miyazawa
Unbeaten by rain
Unbeaten by wind
Unbowed by the snow and the summer heat
Strong in body
Free from greed
Without any anger
Always serene

With a handful of brown rice a day
Miso and a small amount of vegetables suffice
Whatever happens
Consider yourself last, always put others first
Understand from your observation and experience
Never lose sight of these things

In the shadows of the pine groves in the fields
Live modestly under a thatched roof
In the East, if there is a sick child
Go there and take care of him
In the West, if there is an exhausted mother
Go there and relieve her of her burden
In the South, if there is a man near death
Go there and comfort him, tell him “Don’t be afraid”
In the North, if there is an argument and a legal dispute
Go there and persuade them it’s not worth it

In a drought, shed tears
In a cold summer, carry on
Even with a sense of loss
Being called a fool
Being neither praised nor a burden

Such a person I want to be





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[Byokan]

Life always has meaning. Sometimes we miss that fact, however. Sometimes we are so busy searching for "the meaning of life" that we miss the "meaning" that is life itself.

Just be a gentle and loving person.

山家富貴銀千樹 ～山家の富貴は銀千樹
　漁夫風流玉一蓑 ～漁夫の風流　玉一蓑（さ）
The treasure of a mountain hut, a thousand silver trees.
The jewel of a rustic fisherman, a single straw coat.

Gassho, J

SatToday

Wow, thank you Jundo.

Thank you too Mr. K for sharing this wonderful poem. I googled it to find out more:

"Unbeaten by Rain" is arguably the most memorized and quoted modern poem in Japan. It often hangs in schools or homes. Both intensely lyrical and permeated with a sophisticated scientific understanding of the universe, Kenji Miyazawa's poem is a testimony to his deep love of humanity and nature. And now, it is also a fitting tribute to people of Japan.


Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) is widely viewed as Japan's greatest poet of the 20th century. He was born and lived in Iwate Prefecture, which suffered severe damage in Great East Japan Earthquake.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[Getchi]

My final answer
I am Antaiji and I am not Antaiji.
I am Treeleaf and I am not Treeleaf.

I can create Antaiji and Treeleaf in my mind.So I point my brain and heart.

So just do it and do responsibility.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful.

Gassho
Geoff.

SatToday.

[Kakunen]

How do you check that your Shyugyou(hard practice) is good direction?

Beautiful.

Gassho
Geoff.
------

Zazen is good for nothing.
Not beautiful,just beautiful ,I think.

Just sit and sit,and sit, and sit.
And throwing yourself and throw,and throw ,and throw.

[MyoHo]

Hello,

Interesting toppic and answers. Thank you all.

My thoughts on these questions:

How does one know when Practice is going in a good direction?

For me it is a struggle to totally drop that very question. Very hard. No way to measure progress and the wish to take some measure, seems to be the problem, no?

Does Zazen have to be hard Zazen?

Same question in other words no? About "more or less" and "good" or "not so good". For me one day very hard, next day, easy. All just happy sitting, always good no matter hard or not so hard. When hard, sit because its good practice and be greatfull for the thruth in sitting being hard. When easy, sit too being gratefull for truth in just sitting in peace. Sitting is always OK.

Deep bows

Myoho



Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9300 met Tapatalk

[michaeljc]

Wow - interesting topic for a number of reasons

Mr K -

First: what do you mean by 'hard Zazen'? If you have progressed from a chair to full lotus in just a few months I am assuming that you have experienced a great deal of pain at times. So - is this the hard part?

I have had a connection with Japan through the years having visited and stayed with families on multiple occasions. So, I have picked up some observations. There are potential cultural differences at play. I will tell a story:

My contacts in Japan would also visit and work with me. The catalyst was horses. One day in the yard my Japanese helper came up to me and said with an absolutely dead-pan expression, "Michael, I stood on a nail" I looked down at this piece of wood through which a large rusty nail protruded. There was blood a full 25 mm (1 inch) down its shank. Now, if one of my countrymen had done that s/he would have let out an almighty scream or swear or something. There would never be just silence.

My impression is that within Japanese culture you are taught to tolerate anything without fuss. Within western culture there are a whole lot of different dynamics that can occur. We are permitted to be more personally responsive - more independent. Which is best? I don't know. I guess it depends on individuals. Pain is always going to be part of our practice, but I do believe there is such a thing as too much. In the long term WE have to decide how much is too much. I have always believed that ultimately we are alone in this practice and that sooner or later we have to go out and practice completely alone for long periods of time

How do we know that our practice is on the right path? First we must ask ourselves what brought us to this practice? I see that there are 2 paths with possible mix of the 2 on occasions

1: Through suffering

2: Through intellectual intrigue (e.g wanting to know the meaning of life)

I fall in to the first category. I know this path is right for me because it relieves me of suffering and starts to address the 2nd path whether I like it or not. I believe that coming to Zen practice via the 2nd path is far more difficult. Many/most people starting with this as their motivation leave sooner or later

To finish I will ask again: what is it that is hard about your Zazen?

I am sorry that this is a long post

Best Regards

Michael

Sat 2-day

[Kakunen]

Thank you everybody ,I need a time to read in English.


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[Getchi]

Beautiful.

Gassho
Geoff.
------

Zazen is good for nothing.
Not beautiful,just beautiful ,I think.

Just sit and sit,and sit, and sit.
And throwing yourself and throw,and throw ,and throw.

I have thought on this since I read it, thankyou for this.

Gassho,
Geoff.

SatToday.

[Ongen]

Hello Mr. K,

How does one know when Practice is going in a good direction?
The mind is calm, the heart is open.

Does Zazen have to be hard Zazen?
No and yes! Sometimes Zazen is easy, sometimes it is hard. Either way, it is just Zazen.

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

That!

Gassho,


Ongen
Sat Today