I thought of this tread this morning as I was getting ready to do some work and found myself emotionally just not ready to handle much in the way of responsibilities. Just a bit out of sorts. I really felt like do some zazen before work and found that 20 mins settled my mind to the point of being much more focused. Ideally I like to do one 20 min session and a 40 min as well...not that it always turns out that way. I find that when I follow this schedule emotions and thoughts are a lot less "sticky", to use a phrase Norm Fischer refers to in one of his podcasts. Zazen may not be the highlight of my day, although it can be, but it does seem to smooth the day out. My mind also seems a lot more "open" and "fluid".

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW