Originally Posted by
Matto
... some food for thought
However, rising from the cushion ... one must come to express Zazen all through daily life. All of daily life is also "Zazen" in its wider meaning. So, if a particular person wished to also chant "
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" or "
Namu Amida Butsu" or "
Allahu al-Akbar" or "
Kwan Seum Bosal" or the Torah or "
Praise Jesus" (
or "Praise Richard Dawkins" for our atheist members 8) ) ... that is fine. Up to each person in their heart. All Zazen in its wider meaning, as is everything from changing the baby to cooking dinner to sewing a Kesa.
And if one chants (or prays) feeling that this is "
complete, whole, the only thing needed to do" and "
there is no other place to be, nothing lacking, not one more thing to do" ... that is is 'okay' if life hands us what we are demanding or requesting in (A) or does not hand us that ... with no thought of gain or anything in need of gaining ... with simple gratitude for what is ... then this too is
Shikantaza!**