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Originally Posted by JohnsonCM
My question is this. Do you think that Zen can help me to overcome this? Is that possible? Or is it that this practice can be “despite” these problems? Can a person even reach realization with a chemical imbalance? I don’t want it to seem like I’m ‘using’ Zen to fix myself, so much (though I am a little bit) but I really don’t want to, I guess, feel like these problems will mean that no matter the depth and sincerity of my practice, my issues will continue to hold me back. Of course, that could also just be the paranoia talking too.... :roll:
Thanks.
Yes, this Practice can help you overcome this ... dropping the self-punishing-self thoughts and emotions, just being with life as it is.
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We live/sit with things "just as they are" ... and that is Freedom. ...
You might just find that being so "allowing" of life that you can even "just be" with stressful situations truly helps your stress! Being so at ease that one does not even worry about being stressed some of the day or about some things is the ultimate Peace! One may this find that, by being so "allowing" of the stress ... the stress about stress thus fades, and the stress fades! :shock:
Yet, as I often say, Zazen will not fix your flat tire, cure your cancer or even your acne or broken marriage (although it may help you deal with each better). What our way will surely do is help you embrace each, go with the flow, allow and be ok with those parts of life (even though still sometimes scary, sometimes stressful, sometimes hard). We "Go With The Flow".
In fact, we can lose our small self to such a degree ... there remains just the Flowing ... :)
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... We are at one with the flat tire, at one with fixing the tire, at one with the tire fixed. All along, we know that there "is nothing in need of fixing" even as, hand-in-hand, there is "something in need of fixing" (both tasted at once, not two). And as with a perfectly just as it is flat tire, so it is with human conditions of fear, panic disorders, anger, addiction, depression and the like.
Shikantaza may help with or fully cure some of it (it may lessen or allow the full droppiing of the fear, the anger, addiction, depression etc), or it may not, and simply allow us to be "at one" with our flat tires of fear, anger, addiction, etc.
In such latter cases, something more than Shikantaza may be required and ... IF IT IS EFFECTIVE ... I fully support that.
Thus, I do sometimes suggest that people pursue, hand in hand with Shikantaza, a "12 step" program for addiction, anger management classes, medical treatment by a reputable doctor for a physical condition, anti-depression medication (if effective), psychotherapy (if effective), Metta Practice and Nurturing Seeds Practice (if it is helpful) and the like.
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But whatever supplementary path is pursued, nothing should take away from the central message of Shikantaza practice ... to wit, there is nothing in need of fixing, never was. Just be and let it be ... even as ya might need to fix something.
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Zazen will not fix all your problems in life. It won't cure your acne, fix a flat tire on your car, or fix a truly broken relationship with your significant other. It will allow you to see those things in new ways (e.g., "be one" with your pimples or flat tire or cheating spouse), but it will not solve the condition itself. Same for certain psychological conditions, for example, certain types of neuro-chemical induced depression, alcoholism, gambling or drug addiction, psychosis ... Zazen will not fix those any more than it will cure your cancer (it sure will help if you have alcoholic tendencies, or even cancer, and can be a key part of the cure or healing ... but it is not a cure in itself). So, seeking additional help for certain issues ... no problem.
If you have a bad tooth, see a dentist ... not a Zen teacher. Of course, do Zazen while sitting in the dentist's chair. Same for many other medical, physical and psychological conditions. Go see a counselor if you need.