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

[Jundo]

So, today, let's begin “Zazen for Beginners.” Because we’re always beginners.

We’ll talk the basics of “Just Sitting” Shikantaza Zazen… There’s a bit more to “Just Sitting” than “just sitting around.“

In a series of talks over the coming days, Taigu and I will discuss this and that about “Just Sitting,” which has much to do with dropping thoughts of “this” and “that.” We’ll talk about where you can expect to “go” in your practice, and what you can expect to attain, which is, of course …

ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE AND NOTHING!

Don’t think, however, that not thinking of “attaining” means that a treasure is not attained.

And freeing our “self” of all need to get somewhere can be truly getting somewhere.

These talks are meant for beginners in “Just Sitting” Shikantaza Zazen and newcomers to Treeleaf Sangha. Shikantaza is our central practice at Treeleaf. But I hope that both new folks and old timers will watch. We are all, of course, ever beginning now and now and now, with “Beginner’s Mind.“

Let’s start by seeing the mind as like a noisy kitchen blender… filled with all kinds of rattlin’ stuff.

Let it settle!

CLICK HERE for today’s Sit-A-Long video.

[youtube] [/youtube]

Remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 15 to 35 minutes is recommended.

(Using headphones? Do note that there is loud noise at times in this video!)

[mr.Lou]

Why is it recommended that one sit for 15 to 35 minutes?

[Jundo]

Why is it recommended that one sit for 15 to 35 minutes?

Hi Lou,

We get to that in a later talk in this series, with more details ...

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

... but in a nutshell ...

Zazen is truly not a matter of long or short, and one instant of Zazen is Timeless and All Time when experienced as such. Yet, on practical term, at least 15 to 35 minutes is a good period to settle into that Timeless by letting the mind-and-body settle.

You will also see that we recommended sometime longer sittings (including attending multi-day retreats and Sesshin now and then), and even many "insta-sittings" throughout the day (also discussed later in this series of Beginners talks).

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

Gassho, Jundo

[Neika]

Thank you.