A matter of practice ....daily rhythm

[Jishin]

Hi Frank,

At 5:15 I get up. I read emails, Treeleaf forum, feed the dogs and Zazen usually at 6:30 in the morning. I exercise approximately 10 to 15 minutes in the morning after Zazen. I participate in the festivities from Treeleaf on Friday evenings from time to time. I drop the kids off at school at 7:45 and I am at work by 8 AM. I see about 25 patients per day. I get home at about 6 o'clock. I usually do not have time for more than 15 minutes for lunch. When I get home I am exhausted but do the best I can to be pleasant. I am always on call as I work alone. I am always checking my emails and screening my phone calls due to possible patient emergencies. I have a copy of the Heart Sutra at work which usually sits right under my left elbow which stares at me throughout the day. I also get automatic emails with the Heart Sutra sent to me once a day. Weekend routine is a little different but I sit 30 minutes as usual. I have not to missed a day of sitting for several years.

When sitting space and time vanish. This being so, for some people 10 minutes a day may be sufficient and for others three weeks at a time might be needed. At least this is what Jundo says and he's the boss around here.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jundo]

I came across this passage from Master Linji today, which has a poem said by some to be by Manorhita, the twenty-second Indian patriarch of Zen.

... this "activity going on right now" ... "mysterious principle" ... "accordance with the myriad circumstances" ... "going with the flow" ...

... it just seems to fit here.

“Followers of the Way, what more is there for the resolute fellow to
doubt? The activity going on right now—whose is it? Grasp and use, but
never name—this is called the ‘mysterious principle.’ Come to such understanding
as this, and there is nothing to be disliked. A man of old said:

[My] mind turns in accordance with the myriad circumstances,
And this turning, in truth, is most mysterious.
Recognizing [my] nature while according with the flow,
[I] have no more joy nor any sorrow.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Frank]

Thanks everyone...insightful.
I like my structure now, but im.also flexible to what life brings me daily, or moment by moment. It's in those moments that I learn to let go of any structure to "go with the flow"...as in the children's movie Frozen ... Let it go. .let it go !

Gassho
Frank
Sat Today

[Frank]

Furthermore, in the past, I always found it frustrating when my expectations or plans were disrupted, and at times still do, but now, more often than not, I automatically relax, breathe, and let go of my expectations. That makes me smile that im.actually awake, and aware of that moment.

Being like a flowing river, when stones, or other obstructions block the flow, the river continues, going over, around or through... the beat, the rhythm goes on.

Thank you for all your sharing

/-\

[RichardH]

Hi Frank. The days in our home are not regular and it is hard to say how they will unfold week to week. I try to keep to a scheduled morning sitting, but if there has been a late night of work the sitting comes a bit later. There is no right or wrong state of mind going onto sitting. Whether I am feeling settled and clear, or banged up and disturbed, the sitting is an open space for whatever is going on. Sometimes things settle out, sometimes they churn. Room for all.

Gassho
Daizan
Sat today

[Risho]

Yeah I concur -- my weekdays are dominated by work; I have also begun working out again. So I usually sit in the mornings during the week, but I haven' t mastered a schedule.

Even during Ango, I usually sit in the morning and then after work; so I have weird sitting times.

I usually try to read some Buddhist book; I stick with two books at a time usually; for example, right now I'm reading "Opening the Hand of Thought" with the book club and "After Buddhism" on my own. But I love reading (primarily non-fiction). I've started getting into history too; Tony Horowitz is phenomenal. I wish he was my history teacher when I was a youngster.

Then when I have time, I will play a game, e.g. right now it's Fallout 4; what a great game, if you like that sort of thing...

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[CK732]

Too much structure stresses me out. I sit twice a day, once before 7am in the morning and once in the evening. I sit instant zazen anytime in between as needed. I have my hands full waking up three hours before I need to be at work just to make sure that I'm fully awake and aware (so NOT a morning person) the only structure I have are the set number of hours that I work - my work gets done within those hours on my schedule. No two days are exactly the same - if they were I wouldn't be having fun [emoji3]

Gassho

Nanto Sat2Day

[Byrne]

My life's rhythm is highly arrhythmic. I sit when I can. Minimum of 15 minutes everyday, rarely more than 30. Sometimes first thing in the morning. Sometimes mid day. Sometimes before bed. When will I sit has been my daily puzzle since I started with Treeleaf and I enjoy the challenge.

Gassho

Sat Today