How to Continue Zazen?

Last updated on: September 18, 2008 at 5:18 pm by Dosho Port

How to Continue Zazen? 2008-09-18T17:18:00-06:00 Dosho Port

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This is a key issue for many practitioners, especially those who aren’t in monastic settings or practicing regularly at a Zen center.

One way that most people try is discipline – when it’s time to get up in the morning and sit, just get up. From what I’ve seen, though, I’d say this approach doesn’t work very well. “Discipline” tends to get colonized with the nasty parent/harsh critic voice. Aroused from bed by that voice, what kind of zazen can one do? Probably harsh, critical zazen.

Just as hatred never ceases by hatred…harsh, critical zazen does not usually lead to love and deep reflection. So how then can we keep going?

In my first meeting with Katagiri-roshi he instructed me to be like a long-distance train, not getting distracted by the scenery. He didn’t tell me much about how to do that – that’s been my problem.

A couple approaches that I’ve found helpful are intention and inquiry. I’ll talk about intention here and come back to inquiry later (after teaching in Omaha and seeing Nonin this weekend).

The basis of intention practice is to regularly return to the spirit of our first intention for practice. In my case, laying in bed as a little kid, I became vividly aware of my beating heart and I became aware that when it stopped, I’d be dead. That scared me and I went to my mother for comfort. After a warm hug she said, “Go back to bed and think about your electric train.”

Distraction helped me get to sleep that night but didn’t deal with the underlying issue of immanent death.

Keeping death close at hand is one way to just get up and sit.

What was your first intention? Comments welcome.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 18, 2008

Another Bridge to Nowhere

Next Post

September 22, 2008 Rely On the Teaching Not the Teacher

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 December 2016 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who is commended in 3 John for walking in the truth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Gaius Demetrius Philemon Diotrephes