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Thread: SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Yes! No! Sometimes! NEVER!

  1. #1

    SIT-A-LONG with Jundo: Yes! No! Sometimes! NEVER!



    A friend wrote today confessing that he skips or misses Zazen some days, and finds it easier sometimes to let the Precepts be his guide. He said:

    I may not be able to settle my mind enough to do zazen, but my troubled mind does well working through my vows and precepts. And in that process I often find some sort of answer as to how to be a better Buddhist in my interactions with the world. Often, once I've settled things a bit with the vows and precepts I can get back to doing zazen.
    Wonderful! I have a confession too:

    Do you think I never miss a day of Zazen?? Well, if you mean seated Zazen on the Zafu, yes I miss when life comes up. Just this week, I was getting ready to sit and my wife rushed in with our daughter, shaking with a high fever. I was off to the emergency room in a minute, the Zafu forgotten. Of course, as best I can, I seek to never miss a day ... seeking Such what cannot be sought, each day that is Timeless, never missing What cannot be missed ... the consistently inconsistent, Changeless right though all change ... seeking beyond and right through all seeking, yet seeking nonetheless ...

    ... but sometimes I get called away, or have someplace to be, or just fall asleep, or forget, or just take a day or week off (even monks do that), go to the movies instead or just am too darn lazy. Do I miss many a day? Yes!, (although I seek not to do so, and try not to miss, and resume again the next) I miss MANY a day of seeking Such Not Sought Which Is Never Missing!

    But do you think that I ever miss a day of Zazen?? NEVER! Not a one! Sitting in the emergency room, on the edge of life, I "sat Zazen" even if without the funny round cushion, no sacred mudra, legs straight on the floor comforting my scared and just as sacred daughter. It may not be cross legged facing the wall, but there is not a day, not an hour, when I do not "sit Shikantaza" in life. Allowing life to be even as something cannot be easily allowed ... afraid yet simultaneously living Such Beyond Fear, body shaking as That Unshaken ... hoping for a good outcome, yet simultaneously embodying Such In Which All Comes And Goes, All Outcome Good.

    The Precepts are fundamental, and I seek to live them each day ... but do you think we never miss? Yes!, I miss sometimes ... so many times each day. Well, I usually do not miss too bad (no bank robberies, assaults or murders to my name), but yesterday I did find myself getting too angry about a stupid bookkeeping error in our small translation office! All I could do was realize and release ... let the anger go before the fires burned too hot. Honestly, I got a little burned this time, but soon the fires were out.

    The Precepts are fundamental, but they can never be broken! NEVER! In a moment of Shikantaza ... seeking Such what cannot be sought, each day that is Timeless, never missing What cannot be missed ... the Precepts are all kept, no Precept ever broken in Such Ever Unbroken. Nonetheless, rising from the cushion ... out in the world ... one does as one can never to break a Precept. (In fact, when the mind is filled with excess greed, anger and divisive thoughts of ignorance, darn hard to "sit Shikantaza" and know Such Which Can Never Be Broken!).

    Did Dogen ever miss a day of Zazen? Did Dogen ever break the Precepts? (I would ask the same of all the Ancestors, even the historical Buddha himself ... although the biographies have all been polished up and the misses erased). I would say, in my guess knowing what a human being is ...

    ... sometimes (when life came up) YES! and (for certainly there was not a day in which they did not apply the Buddhist Teachings) NO! and (seeking Such what cannot be sought, each day that is Timeless, never missing What cannot be missed. NEVER!

    Yes! No! Sometimes! NEVER! This is our sincere Zen Way of Practice-Enlightenment. Is that clear??


    Gassho, Jundo
    Last edited by Jundo; 07-02-2014 at 01:30 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  2. #2
    Thank you for this Jundo.

    I recall reading somewhere, perhaps on this forum how as Zen materializes in the West ( pun intended), it can take on an atmosphere of "accomplishment" in the sense that we might see training for a marathon. Then we can brag to our friends about out marathon progress and training. This "confession" of not sitting daily seems to me to be along the lines of this kind of thinking. I would suggest perhaps if we fall into this trap, then we are no longer practicing Zen, but something more like competition. Maybe we berate ourselves for our "imperfect" practice, when all along it's all perfect.

    Gassho
    C

  3. #3
    Mp
    Guest
    Wonderful stuff Jundo ... I sought to understand yet I understood that I don't understand that I understood ... ! =)

    Gassho
    Shingen

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Clark View Post
    Thank you for this Jundo.

    I recall reading somewhere, perhaps on this forum how as Zen materializes in the West ( pun intended), it can take on an atmosphere of "accomplishment" in the sense that we might see training for a marathon. Then we can brag to our friends about out marathon progress and training. This "confession" of not sitting daily seems to me to be along the lines of this kind of thinking. I would suggest perhaps if we fall into this trap, then we are no longer practicing Zen, but something more like competition. Maybe we berate ourselves for our "imperfect" practice, when all along it's all perfect.

    Gassho
    C
    Clark,

    This is so true, in my view. In our modern society which is so fixated on achievement, material success, and competition, Zazen can become another goal to achieve, another box to check off, and a way to measure one's self worth compared to others. In fact, our Way is meant to be the Cure for that dis-ease, the Pointless Point of All Points beyond and right through points to rack up!

    That does not mean that we thus become detached and unmotivated either, by the way! That is running to the other extreme. Rather (as another example of living two ways At Once As One as this Zen Way), one learns Stillness in both stillness and motion. There is a time to sit, a time to move ... but always No Place In Need Of Getting. One can achieve and have goals while simultaneously (as if seeing out of another eye) dropping all goals and need to achieve. One can work hard and build a career or do a good job in Right Livelihood putting bread on the table for one's kids while (as if baking one's cake while eating it too) knowing already the Treasure of All Satisfaction Already In Hand from the start. One can have a healthy sense of competition (all things in moderation, the Middle Way) all while knowing that, in Wisdom and Compassion, there are simultaneously no points in need of winning and our "opponents" are just our self in other guise.

    But in order to know so, one should become very very adept at Sitting Very Still, Allowing the world to be, tasting All Fulfillment in the Wise-Nonsense of Just Sitting ...

    ... all to realize that same Stillness into life when, rising from the cushion, there are places to go and people to see.

    I am left thinking about this recent meta-study on meditation research. This so-called "Mindfulness Meditation" that is being sold like another cheap consumer item does not "do" as much as people hope for in "relaxing" and helping executives and pentagon generals become "efficient". Well, DUHHHHh! People are using it as another "technique" to "make their lives better". Thus, their lives do not get better.

    http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/arti...icleid=1809754

    But Shikantaza is much more subtle, not just another pill: It Teaches us a Peace and Ease that is right through and right at the heart of both ordinary life's times of ease and times of hard, a Joy that is both smiles and tears, and an "Attaining" of the absolute non-necessity of attaining. So long as folks are trying to "Get Something", meditation is just another new car in the driveway, the next promotion. Dogen's Way is merely the Sacredness & Wholeness of every act, twist or turn, up and down in life! A Buddha's Smile holds and surpasses small human smiles and tears. Only by being Wholely Whole with life ... even the bumps and sharp edges ... can one have True Peace (The Buddha never found a cure for old age, sickness and all the other trials of life ... as shown by his having grown old and sick and sometimes stubbing he toes. Rather, he found a Way right through all that and beyond dissatisfactions).

    This hilarious Arj Barker video is much more than just a parody!

    “I’m so present I am ahead of my time”

    “The instructor just told us to do a 45 minute meditation–I nailed it in 10!”


    Gassho, J
    Last edited by Jundo; 07-02-2014 at 03:56 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  5. #5
    Yes Jundo that was exactly my point, only you said it better

    AND I love this video, very funny, but also instructive

    Gassho
    C

  6. #6
    Thank you for this teaching.

    It' always nice to have a new SIT-A-LONG.

    Gassho,

    Kyonin
    Hondō Kyōnin
    奔道 協忍

  7. #7
    Kyotai
    Guest
    Thank you for this video. I once viewed this practice as an item on my to do list, like get groceries, take my son to soccer, and sit zazen. Took me a while to understand groceries and soccer are zazen too. I didn't come to this understanding while getting groceries, taking my son to soccer, or watching Jundo's sit alongs. Only by sitting zazen!

    Gassho

    Shawn

  8. #8
    A cartoon from the great "Dharma the Cat" series. (Google it if you don't know) ...



    a couple more ...







    Gassho, J
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  9. #9
    Thank you Jundo.

    Gassho,
    Dosho

  10. #10
    Mp
    Guest
    Catch-22! Thank you Jundo. =)

    Gassho
    Shingen

  11. #11
    Hello,

    Great question: Where does it say 'up'?

    Thank you for the moment.


    Gassho,
    Myosha
    "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

  12. #12
    Thank you Jundo,
    for this talk,
    Gassho
    Myoku

  13. #13
    Treeleaf Engineer Seimyo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Yuba City, California, USA
    Thank you Jundo.

    Gassho
    Seimyo

    明 Seimyō (Christhatischris)

  14. #14
    Thank you, Jundo. Relevant and Humorous.

    Gassho,
    Juki
    "First you have to give up." Tyler Durden

  15. #15
    Thank you as always.
    Thanks,
    Kaishin (開心, Open Heart)
    Please take this layman's words with a grain of salt.

  16. #16
    Nindo
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Myosha View Post
    Hello,

    Great question: Where does it say 'up'?

    Thank you for the moment.


    Gassho,
    Myosha

    I've always wanted to be a black bird.
    I love how they sing on the roof tops around my parent's house.

    Why don't we have a singing smiley?

    Sorry, OT.

  17. #17
    Many thanks, Jundo!

    Gassho,
    Tim

  18. #18
    I suspected Jundo that you don't sit everyday...although you do...so do I

    Girai

  19. #19
    Thank you teacher :-)

    Gassho
    Thank you for your practice

  20. #20
    Fantastic thread!

    Gassho,

    Rick

  21. #21
    Trying to sit at 5 AM as I used to but was too lazy, now I have come up with 10 PM when the house goes quiet.
    I am tired then but zazen takes over, things happen.
    Thank you Jundo for your words and gassho to all on this thread!!

    Ed
    "Know that the practice of zazen is the complete path of buddha-dharma and nothing can be compared to it....it is not the practice of one or two buddhas but all the buddha ancestors practice this way."
    Dogen zenji in Bendowa






  22. #22
    Thank you for this teaching, Jundo.

    Deep bows,
    Matt J

  23. #23
    Thank you

    Gassho
    Bobby
    Just Sit

  24. #24
    Thank you Jundo.

    Nonattachment. I just mastered it. hahahahhhhha


    Gassho,

    Risho

  25. #25
    But .... during times of concentrated Practice such as during our current Washington Retreat, there are times to sit intently and long, not missing or slacking off. One sits morning to night, just sitting grappling with the "me myself i" ... sitting hard and long all to attain "nothing to attain".

    This week is such a time. I sometimes write this ...

    While here we encourage daily sitting of but a few minutes a day if ... ... meeting each instant of sitting as an expression of All-Time and Being ...


    http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...%28Part-XXI%29


    ... we also request, if at all possible, that folks join in with a group one longer residential "Sesshin" per year of from 3 to 7 days eacy year ...


    Now, someone might ask too, "if each moment is all time and space, what is the purpose of an intensive Sesshin?" Well, I often say that, sometimes, we need to practice a bit long and hard, morning to night ... sitting and wrestling with 'me, my self and I' ... all to attain Nothing to Attain! Going to Retreats, Sesshin and such is a powerful facet of this Practice and not to be missed.
    Gassho, Jundo
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  26. #26
    Thank you Jundo

    Gassho
    Lisa
    sat today

  27. #27
    Another treasure dug up by Lisa Thank you!

    Gassho,
    Sierra
    SatToday

  28. #28

  29. #29
    Quote Originally Posted by Jundo View Post
    A cartoon from the great "Dharma the Cat" series. (Google it if you don't know) ...



    a couple more ...







    Gassho, J
    Jundo,

    Is the last one a playful stab from the cat to the monk about 'up' or is my disenchantment towards human centric bias in some buddhism actually recognized as legitimate?

    I'm going to have a honest moment and say I roll my eyes silently when people harp 'Precious human birth' as if we're the entitled snowflake species and then follow with compassion for all sentient beings..but always with the tinge we are a exxxtra special and more worthy of compassion bit of interbeing.

    I like buddhism, most of it and this is one of the things I just never really bought and don't discuss because of not willing to cause 'rifts' in people that may or may not get it and I may win the debate but not be right because the counterpoint to prove me wrong might not have been made.

    Read somewhere that all beings can reach enlightenment but only humans are most positioned to do so. "all roads lead to the capital but everyone won't take the trip". I can't directly communicate in a deep way with a kitty for example to determine if some of their actions aren't nonsense but bodhisattva practices I don't have the sense to get or if the cat completely suffers from the three poisons.

    I'm not one of those antihuman people but I did see and was the recipent of more kindness from animals at times then humans.

    Metta,
    Greg

    SatToday

    Sent from my SCH-R530M using Tapatalk
    “A fine line separates the weary recluse from the fearful hermit. Finer still is the line between hermit and bitter misanthrope.” - Dean Koontz

  30. #30
    Hello,

    All in/with Buddha-nature are enlightened. Just realize it.

    No charge.^^


    Gassho
    Myosha sat today
    "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

  31. #31
    Member Onka's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Rural Queensland, so-called Australia
    Before I started sitting Zazen and reading more than just bits and pieces about Buddhism I tended to (and continue) to attract and be attracted to misfits and rebels. Listening to, talking with and supporting others has always come easy to me, even before my university qualifications. I've often been known to use the phrase perfectly imperfect to describe friends who live with the challenges associated with mental illness or brains that aren't neuro-typical. I fit into the categories above myself but for some reason am less likely to be accepting of my own perceived failings. Jundo and my Sisters and Brothers here at Treeleaf remind me that I'm perfectly imperfect and that's ok. I do what I can when I can how I can.
    Be kind to each other and look after yourselves.
    Thanks Jundo.
    Anna.

    Sat today
    Lent a hand

  32. #32
    "Be kind to each other and look after yourselves."

    _()_ _()_ _()_

    gassho
    doyu sat today
    Visiting unsui: use salt

  33. #33
    Quote Originally Posted by Anna View Post
    Before I started sitting Zazen and reading more than just bits and pieces about Buddhism I tended to (and continue) to attract and be attracted to misfits and rebels. Listening to, talking with and supporting others has always come easy to me, even before my university qualifications. I've often been known to use the phrase perfectly imperfect to describe friends who live with the challenges associated with mental illness or brains that aren't neuro-typical. I fit into the categories above myself but for some reason am less likely to be accepting of my own perceived failings. Jundo and my Sisters and Brothers here at Treeleaf remind me that I'm perfectly imperfect and that's ok. I do what I can when I can how I can.
    Be kind to each other and look after yourselves.
    Thanks Jundo.
    Anna.

    Sat today
    Lent a hand
    Oh, thank you for letting me revisit this old talk. Apparently, I am a broken record, repeating the same messages these days as long ago.

    Gassho, Jundo

    STLah
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  34. #34
    Quote Originally Posted by Anna View Post
    Before I started sitting Zazen and reading more than just bits and pieces about Buddhism I tended to (and continue) to attract and be attracted to misfits and rebels. Listening to, talking with and supporting others has always come easy to me, even before my university qualifications. I've often been known to use the phrase perfectly imperfect to describe friends who live with the challenges associated with mental illness or brains that aren't neuro-typical. I fit into the categories above myself but for some reason am less likely to be accepting of my own perceived failings. Jundo and my Sisters and Brothers here at Treeleaf remind me that I'm perfectly imperfect and that's ok. I do what I can when I can how I can.
    Be kind to each other and look after yourselves.
    Thanks Jundo.
    Anna.

    Sat today
    Lent a hand

    Mateus
    Sat today

  35. #35

    Tairin
    Sat today and lah
    泰林 - Tai Rin - Peaceful Woods

  36. #36

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