View Full Version : a leaf sprouts in Georgia
kokuu
12-06-2007, 04:20 PM
Hi everyone, I'm kokuu (empty sky), and very thankful to have found this group. I've been reading about Buddhism and Zen for a little over a year, and have been sitting on my own for about the same amount of time.
Currently my practice is about exploring the heartbeat. I notice that if I start with breath counting, somewhere along the 10 minute mark, my heartbeat becomes all consuming, like a drumbeat, and I just follow it. The breath counting falls away, and there is a total body experience. Afterwards, I tend to see that rhythm and heartbeat everywhere. (Hope that makes sense, very difficult to put into words!)
Anyway, I am enjoying the talks by Jundo, and following the posts.
Cheers!
kokuu
Rev R
12-06-2007, 07:43 PM
18 reads and no welcomes(ok ok one of those was me)? you're slacking leafers :P
hello and welcome kokuu
oxeye
12-06-2007, 08:08 PM
hiya kokuu.. welcome to the tree leaf! - jeff
Dainin
12-06-2007, 08:17 PM
Hi kokuu,
Welcome to Treeleaf!
Gassho,
Keith
Hello and welcome! Nice to have you "here." :)
Gassho~
*Lynn
Hi kokuu! Welcome to the TZF! :)
Jundo
12-06-2007, 09:52 PM
Hi Kokuu,
Welcome!
Master Dogen's teaching on the hearbeat, I believe, would be to just let the heartbeat beat. Until it stops beating.
In the Shikantaza practice, we do not focus on any one item or object when sitting Zazen, and we are expansive and seeking nothing particular as a special state. Perhaps we might say that "everything and nothing" is our object. Good Zazen and bad Zazen ... is all good Zazen. However, it is perfectly fine to do something like that for the first few minutes in our Practice.
Beat beat beat beat beat ... moment moment moment moment moment
Gassho, Jundo
TracyF
12-06-2007, 09:57 PM
Hiya, Kokuu. :)
Welcome Kokuu. :)
Gassho Will
Steve
12-07-2007, 12:51 AM
Welcome!
Steve
Gregor
12-07-2007, 01:46 AM
Hello Kokuu, nice to meet you.
take care,
Greg
Ankai
12-07-2007, 03:07 AM
Hi. Pull up a chair. can I get you anything?
Shohei
12-07-2007, 11:43 AM
Hello and Welcome to Treeleaf Kokuu!
Gassho
Dirk
Kukai Myoe
12-07-2007, 11:52 AM
Hi Kokuu. Welcome to Treeleaf. :D
gassho,
Kukai
Bansho
12-07-2007, 01:34 PM
Hi Kokuu,
Welcome, nice to have you here. :)
Gassho
Ken
Martin
12-07-2007, 05:40 PM
Welcome Kokuu
Gassho
Martin
PapaDoc
12-07-2007, 10:24 PM
Welcome from a fellow Georgian. Enjoy the community here.
David aka PapaDoc
Komoku
12-07-2007, 11:24 PM
Hi kokuu! and hello to everyone else new to the forum in the past several days. I haven't been the best on keeping up with welcomes lately.
I'm interested in the heartbeats. Did you learn that technique or has it come along naturally in your practice? The reason I'm asking is because I heard some teaching about this on Zencast which is actually more Vipassana oriented (Insight Meditation, Theravada).
I like listening to their Dharma talks too, but the meditation is different. Just wondering how the heartbeat focus started with you. Again, welcome.
dharmabump
12-08-2007, 05:30 AM
Welcome!
Tony-KY
12-08-2007, 07:49 AM
Welcome Kokuu :)!
Gassho,
Tony
PapaDoc
12-08-2007, 02:25 PM
Just thought, the river that runs past my house, the Chattahoochee, rumbles down hill to your city of Columbus on the way to the Gulf of Mexico. I have been to the source of this river up in north Georgia in my early days of trout fishing (catch and release) as well as to the bay in which it ends its journey. I have a deep sense of connection with this river and find myself using it for meditation on many occasions. Funny piece, this spiring I went with one of the park rangers to "investigate" a sighting of an alligator down from my home. I was surprised to find an 8 foot gator swimming by the bridge over a major highway here in north Atlanta. Stumpy has since disappeared...conjecture is he headed south to your neck of the woods. There must be a koan hidden within all this. If an alligator snaps in north Atlanta....
DAvid aka PapaDoc
Rev R
12-08-2007, 05:51 PM
Why Stumpy?
And thanks doc, you've now replaced the chorus from "The Gambler" with "Chattahoochee"
Shiju
12-09-2007, 11:59 AM
Welcome, Kokuu.
I'm interested in your practice. I have found that when I'm sitting absolutely still, my heartbeat becomes prominent in my awareness, because it is the only physical activity I'm consciously experiencing. So the practice seems quite natural.
Gassho,
Ben
Fuken
12-09-2007, 12:07 PM
Welcome aboard, sorry I'm late!
Gassho,
Jordan
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