Practising when walking, driving or on the train

[Martpr72]

Thanks everyone. I think I am on the right track but am wondering if thoughts wandering are more acceptable in these situations.

For instance, if sitting on a train... 'There's a woman over there, look at her big coat. She's sitting next to a man with a black coat.' I'd take that as being in the moment and just moving from thought to thought. So it's not the same as 'look at that woman over there. I wonder where she works. There's a man next to her. Are they married? He looks too young for her... Etc etc'.... Which is bringing judgement in to play.

So is the first example letting go and just being in the moment?

Does that make sense? I know I'm being rather analytical... Which probably highlights why I find it hard to let go when not on the cushion! [emoji23]

Gassho
Mart
[emoji120]


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[Washin]

Hello Mart,

A couple of years ago I read a little book named "Hua-t'ou: A Method of Zen Meditation" by Stuart Lachs. I was so absrobed by the idea of this practice that I began raising my hua-t'ou wherever I found it possible including driving, until, one day I missed the red light a little (it took a sec as usually) and almost hit the back of a guy in front of me. Yes, almost!
I was really fortunate that my car stopped just a few inches behind another...
Since then I use the only one method, as Jundo says, -- when driving just drive.
At the same time Marcos made some good points on bringing the shikantaza mind into our daily activities
which is something different.

Gassho,
Washin
sattoday

[Taiyo]

Hi Mart,

I don't think sitting in a train could ever feel like sitting on your zafu facing a wall, but we can approach any given situation with the same mindset, letting your walk to the train be just perfect as it is. This way, like Jundo and Marcos said, although only seated Zazen is Zazen, everything we encounter is also Zazen

Gassho,
Andoitz.

SatToday.

[Jundo]

Hi Mart,

First off, I do not recommend doing anything when driving or operating heavy machinery except that. Please just drive when driving. Safety first. Pulling off to the side of the road and sitting in a parking lot is fine, but do not do anything like that while driving but driving. (Driving is already a kind of Zazen, but that is a topic for another day).

Now, any activity can be Zazen when approached as such. When dropping all goals, yet walking forward down the street to get to your destination (having a destination yet no destination at once, every step total arrival) ... when standing in a crowded bus dropping all judgement and resistance, yet packed in like sardines (in part displeased, yet totally at home) ... when cleaning the filthy windows, all while dropping all idea of "clean" vs. "dirty" (dirty yet not dirty at once) ... all Shikantaza Zazen.

Nonetheless, we should also sit each day on the cushion so as to master that on and off the cushion are not apart.

More on this in two recent additions to our new Beginners Series ...

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (13)

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14883-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2813%29

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (21)

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14875-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2821%29

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kyosei]

Hi Mart, how are you?

I understand this by bringing forth the same "mental state" from when we are sitting on the Zafu to our day-by-day activities. That is, to be "here", to be present on the "here-now" and to be aware and open, letting thoughts pass and bringing our focus, our attention to what we are doing or experiencing right now.

Often I understand Shikantaza as if it is a method, and that the state we "develop" through regular sitting should be brought to all of our activities.

Jundo explains this on the 13th video of the "Beginners" series, take a look:

I often say that true Zazen is not a matter of sitting, standing, walking, running, floating in a pond or flying through the air. ALL OF LIFE, each instant and every action, is “Zazen” when lived as such, with the same vigorous, sincere stance of “attaining non-attaining,” and vibrant “doing non-doing” that we’ve pointed to so many times in this beginners’ series.

That does NOT mean, however,that we can give up “Zazen” on our formal sitting cushion, cross-legged or the like and facing the wall or floor. Please don’t misunderstand!

“All of life” is Zazen — but only – seated Zazen is Zazen, too, and is indispensable. (Please remember that Zen teachers often speak out of both sides of their no-sided mouths). In other words, every moment of the day can be a chance to practice Zazen in its all encompassing meaning, but one must still sit Zazen the old fashioned way as well, quietly letting thoughts go, facing the wall or floor. Do not misunderstand that point.

Still, the fact is that we can and should practice Zazen anywhere. This Practice is not limited by time or place, on or off the cushion. Anything, anywhere, anytime is Zazen if tasted as such.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14883-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%2813%29

Gassho

Marcos

#SatToday

[Martpr72]

Hi

I often read (particularly on Insight Timer) that people practice zazen when driving or on the train. I often try to be mindful in these situations, or on my walk to the train station in the morning.... But this doesn't feel the same as zazen. Or is it?

Some help and guidance on how to apply or practice in these situations would be much appreciated.

Gassho
Mart
[emoji120]
Sat2day


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