Although we usually practice Zazen sitting quietly, facing a wall ...
... we can practice Zazen anywhere. It is not limited by time or place. Nor is it simply a matter of sitting cross legged, standing, reclining, floating in a pond or falling through the air.
Today I sit a bit on the train, between stations. There is no talk today, no opening or closing bells, not even sound. No special lesson. Just a guy sitting Zazen on the train ...
(remember: there are no beginning or ending bells today;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
... we can practice Zazen anywhere. It is not limited by time or place. Nor is it simply a matter of sitting cross legged, standing, reclining, floating in a pond or falling through the air.
For anything, anywhere, anytime is Zazen if perceived as such.
Thus I recommend to everyone Jundo's Patented "Insta-Zazen" © throughout each day. You don't even
have to "sit" for these "sittings". "Insta-Zazen" ©
can be of any length, starting from but a moment until infinite time
(which may be the same!). We "Insta-Zazen" © at times in our day when
just a bit of "Zen Mind"© will change our perspective on all things,
when a touch of balance will bring life into balance ...
Just standing in a creeping postal line, in the
dentist's chair,
when the car won't start on a cold morning, when driving and stuck in
traffic, when the computer crashes, waiting for the crossing light to
change, the toast to toast, wherever and whenever ... just do
what you do in Zazen, with the Lotus Position fully optional (it tends
to get in the way while driving or having a root canal, although it
might work in the postal line if you keep pushing along.).
This is actually not such a radical departure
from "traditional"
practice. Life in a Zen monastery, for example, is filled with
countless opportunities to bring the "Way of Non-Seeking" tasted on the
cushion into daily activities ... what's the difference between the
"Dokusan" line and the postal line? Even monks need to wash the windows
and do the laundry (folding and sorting socks is an excellent time for
a bit of "Folding Kinhin". Each place is a place for
Practice. In fact, if what we do on the cushion stays on the cushion,
what's the point??
So, please try Jundo's Patented "Insta-Zazen Sittings" © throughout your
day. In fact, for a limited time only, three (3) "Insta-Zazens" © can
subsitute for one (1) traditional sitting (if sitting a minimum of (one) 1 or more
traditional sittings each day. ).
Today I sit a bit on the train, between stations. There is no talk today, no opening or closing bells, not even sound. No special lesson. Just a guy sitting Zazen on the train ...
(remember: there are no beginning or ending bells today;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
Leave a comment