Feeling bad, feeling good

[Greggorious]

Feeling bad in zazen is just as useful as feeling good.
Feeling good in zazen is just as useless as feeling bad.

I just thought of that. Don't know if you guys agree with me or not.

[Kyotai]

I think hanging on to a negative experience during zazen is no worse then hanging on to a positive one.

Let all judgements of feeling good and feeling bad pass.

Gassho, kyotai
Sat today

[Jundo]

Feeling bad in zazen is just as useful as feeling good.
Feeling good in zazen is just as useless as feeling bad.

I just thought of that. Don't know if you guys agree with me or not.

Oh yes. But when feeling bad, do not cling to bad. (Although bad thoughts may come, one avoids clinging to or stirring up or wallowing in bad thoughts, especially anger, excess desires, jealousy and all the rest ... While they may come, let us just say that we do not invite them to come or to stay either. Other natural feelings, like grief at the loss of a loved one, we should recognize and allow as natural human feelings).

When feeling good, do not cling to good. (It is okay to celebrate, savor, be present for and enjoy the good feelings in life, but do not clutch at them, be addicted to them, or wallow and run in their excess. Do be willing to let them go their way too when it is time for their ending).

I would not call it "useful", because one does not think in such terms for Zazen. Maybe I would not even call it "useless" in contrast to "useful". Bad times are just bad, good times are just good. They just are what they are, useful or useless or not.

I often say that one sits and encounters a certain Buddha Light of Joy which shines right in and as the heart of all small human joys and sorrows.

Gassho, J

SatToday