How to find joy ?

Let's just say that lockdowns and the whole world right now do not convey a lot of joy or happiness. For a lot of us, what brought joy into our life disappeared (drinking at the bar, practicing aikido, going to the movies or museums, having parties with lots of friends, teaching "live" to my students, for example, for me). I think, talking around with people, that i'm not the only one to get a bit stuck in anxious, dark feelings ; today in zazen i understood something that i wanted to share : my own frustration to not feel joy anymore is in itself a big barrier to feeling joy. It's like by wanting to feel it, and by being frustrated cause i don't feel it, i'm blocking and freezing my feelings. As soon as i let go of that "internal blockade", letting myself FEEL the sadness, anxiety, and the whole package, it became much more bearable and i could even feel like it was ok.

How do you find joy nowadays ?

Thanks, zazen !

Gassho,

Uggy,
Sat today,
LAH

I like your description.

First, feel equanimity, sitting and living with an acceptance and embracing, deep in the bones, of all things as they are.

Next, appreciate all things, all moments, up or down, sick or healthy, win or lose, beautiful or ugly as ... each and all, without exceptions ... a shining jewel of infinite worth in a universe of shining jewels of infinite worth. We just in such trust, such faith, until we really come to know so.

Finally, keep a good sense of humor about it all (this is more ethnic humor than "zen" perhaps, but my Jewish grandma would say to laugh as the house burns down).

Find power and beauty in being of service to others, especially now in this time of crisis when people need each other.

I am sure that other folks here will have some good tips to add too.

Gassho, J
STLah

Im an introvert, so staying at home most of the time is normal for me. Other than the unemployment part, still not used to that. But i just find little things I like to do. Change it up sometimes. Like I check the forums here as often as most people check their facebook. Sit with others or sometimes in the free sitting room. One thing I have been doing is making a list of positive things I'd like to change in my life. Have some books im ready to read. In sitting I realized that I should have waited to take Jukai ,so I have come back to learning the basics from the ground up. Some tv or radio. Gaming.

I know there is no earth shattering jewels of wisdom in what I wrote but I just mix things up. Try to make each day a bit different.

Davegassho1
SAT

I was reading about joy in Dharma practice yesterday and thought of sharing this talk by Roland Yuno Rech. If you have a minute it's a nice read. https://www.abzen.eu/en/teaching/tei...e-du-dharma-en


Gassho
Sat

Thats beautiful.

Life is too short to chase perfection.

The fact you still fell equal is giving me happiness.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Inshin

I was reading about joy in Dharma practice yesterday and thought of sharing this talk by Roland Yuno Rech. If you have a minute it's a nice read. https://www.abzen.eu/en/teaching/tei...e-du-dharma-en


Gassho
Sat

---

Wow, lovely! Thank you Inshin!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

Jakuden, that is beautiful.

I extracted the line "and giving in particular is an important source of joy."

Could you, or anybody , elaborate on why this is so?



Gassho.
LaH.

SatToday several.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Getchi

Jakuden, that is beautiful.

I extracted the line "and giving in particular is an important source of joy."

Could you, or anybody , elaborate on why this is so?



Gassho.
LaH.

SatToday several.

---

IMHO I think it is because giving is a natural way to "forget the self". It sort of goes hand in hand with gratitude; when I feel down or wanting, etc I try to remember all that I have to be grateful for; it's overwhelming how fortunate I am.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Inshin

I was reading about joy in Dharma practice yesterday and thought of sharing this talk by Roland Yuno Rech. If you have a minute it's a nice read. https://www.abzen.eu/en/teaching/tei...e-du-dharma-en


Gassho
Sat

---

Yes, this teaching is wonderful, quite lovely! Thank you.

Quote:

---

In the practice itself, we content ourselves with simply being sitting. The expression "contenting oneself with" means that "that it is enough", and therefore, the joy coming from the practice does not depend on achieving something, but simply on the fact of practicing in itself, through letting go. And of course, the fact of "not wanting to obtain something" is in itself a great Liberation, and therefore a source of infinite joy.

...

The practice of Zen doesn't eliminate all these sufferings, but it does allow us to bear them and not despair of existence, and thus finally to maintain a joy of life, despite the fact that there are all sorts of reasons not to be joyful in our life. When we listen to the info news in the morning, all we hear is about disasters, about suffering everywhere. And to remain joyful during the day, we could either say to ourselves: "But that's not possible", or, to be happy, cover our ears and close our eyes. But no! I believe that we can still be joyful, if we live in harmony with whom we really are, and live it from the practice of zazen, as if the sound of the gong at the beginning of zazen, this vibration of zazen, was prolonged in our daily life.

...

Incidentally, we don't try to suppress the thoughts or the emotions which rise to the surface of our consciousness in zazen, but we are simply happy with seeing them, accepting them, and then letting them pass. And as a result, it makes a lot of things of our life less dramatic: the fact that at the same time we don't repress them and also, we don't remain attached to them. So, it's really being fully conscious, but not attached to what we are conscious of.

---

Gassho, J

STLah

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Inshin

I was reading about joy in Dharma practice yesterday and thought of sharing this talk by Roland Yuno Rech. If you have a minute it's a nice read. https://www.abzen.eu/en/teaching/tei...e-du-dharma-en


Gassho
Sat

---

Thank you, Inshin, for the link. gassho2

Gassho,
Onkai,
Sat/lah

Thanks Inshin for sharing Roland Rech's talk. It's a joy to read [morehappy]

Gassho, Yokai (Chris) sat/lah

As long as I give awareness to posture during Shikan-taza, a straight back gives a feeling of joy and peace. The open chest which makes breathing easier overflows the body with a feeling of calm, tranquil naturalness. In the book “The Three Pillars of Zen” there is the line

“The innate dignity and nobility of a human being is revealed in a straight back”

During Shikan-taza, and for a period after I have a fulfilled feeling of tranquil joy. Outside of this practice I, like yourself it seems, am also a Teacher (TEFL) who takes great joy in helping people grow. Not to mention getting fresh air by going for a nice long walk in nature! Feels a little claustrophobic being inside for too long!

I believe a healthy amount of curiosity and passion is very important in life. So I spend a lot of time reading books. Even the Dalai Lama talks about how we should feel desire/interest.

"In order to develop unbiased infinite love, you first need the practice of detach[ment]. But "detach" does not mean to give up desire. Desire must be there. Without desire, how can we live our life? Without desire, how can we achieve Buddhahood? Strong desire to become Buddha"
https://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/blog/2...buddha-nature/

Because I only have a partial understanding on an intellectual level of some words used in Buddhist texts and commentary I spend a fair amount of time researching Buddhist specific context for them.

I think people who enjoyed spending a lot of time interacting socially face to face will have to be extra conscious of mental health. I can only hope that an increase in online social activities and events can in some way satisfy some of those desires. I’ve been wanting to join some online Dharma talks but being in Japan my time zone makes it incredibly difficult!

Gassho
Mark
ST

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WanderingIntrospection

As long as I give awareness to posture during Shikan-taza, a straight back gives a feeling of joy and peace. The open chest which makes breathing easier overflows the body with a feeling of calm, tranquil naturalness. In the book “The Three Pillars of Zen” there is the line

“The innate dignity and nobility of a human being is revealed in a straight back”

During Shikan-taza, and for a period after I have a fulfilled feeling of tranquil joy. ....

---

But do not assume that the point of Shikantaza is to attain a feeling of joy or peace, calm or tranquility. Shikantaza is bigger than that, vast, boundless. This is a Peace and Calm (big P and C) which embraces all the peace and disturbance, calm and chaos of life. This is a Peace that holds all the broken pieces, and a Calm that does not expect, desire or demand to feel "calm" all the time. Do not use Zazen as a tool.

Thus, when the sky is clear, it is clear. What the sky is filled with rain, it rains. Likewise the mind of Zazen. Know that the sky is always Clear even when it rains.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

Thank you for your reminder!

The more I read about Shikan-taza the more I see this as so, and it's reasoning becomes more and more vivid, staying with me. I've been reading "The Three Pillars of Zen" recently and it had a wonderful section about this.

"The very foundation of shikan-taza is an unshakable faith that sitting as the Buddha sat, with the mind void of all conceptions, of all beliefs and points of view, is the actualization or unfoldment of the inherently enlightened Bodhimind with which all are endowed. At the same time this sitting is entered into in the faith that it will one day culminate in the sudden and direct perception of the true nature of this Mind—in other words, enlightenment. Therefore to strive self-consciously for satori or any other gain from zazen is as unnecessary as it is undesirable"

Gassho gassho2
Mark
ST

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jundo

But do not assume that the point of Shikantaza is to attain a feeling of joy or peace, calm or tranquility. Shikantaza is bigger than that, vast, boundless. This is a Peace and Calm (big P and C) which embraces all the peace and disturbance, calm and chaos of life. This is a Peace that holds all the broken pieces, and a Calm that does not expect, desire or demand to feel "calm" all the time. Do not use Zazen as a tool.

Thus, when the sky is clear, it is clear. What the sky is filled with rain, it rains. Likewise the mind of Zazen. Know that the sky is always Clear even when it rains.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

---

I don't do anything to feel joy. I practice Shikantaza and sit with what is. I don't feel joy or particularly peaceful but I was literally just saying to my partner that I feel content at the moment.
Gassho
Onka
Sat today with broken ribs and covered with deep ouchie bruises.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WanderingIntrospection

I've been reading "The Three Pillars of Zen" recently and it had a wonderful section about this.

"The very foundation of shikan-taza is an unshakable faith that sitting as the Buddha sat, with the mind void of all conceptions, of all beliefs and points of view, is the actualization or unfoldment of the inherently enlightened Bodhimind with which all are endowed. At the same time this sitting is entered into in the faith that it will one day culminate in the sudden and direct perception of the true nature of this Mind—in other words, enlightenment. Therefore to strive self-consciously for satori or any other gain from zazen is as unnecessary as it is undesirable"

---

That book is one of the few Zen books that I actually can be heard to caution about. That book has done so much damage over the decades sending people into some pressure cooker practice in a race for big booming Kenshos! The author (Kapleau Roshi) and his teachers (Yasutan-Harada) represent a small corner of folks, not so influential in Japan but must more in the west (through the "Sambokyodan" and Maezumi Roshi's Lineage) creating a mixed Rinzai-Soto practice. That is fine, but Yasutani created a kind of high pressure "blood comes out your eyes" version of Shikantaza that is secondary to their high pressure Koan Introspection Zazen.

If you are going to read that book, I would suggest that you read the following three essays too ...

Special reading - once born twice born zen
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...8part-not-1%29

and

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...8part-not-2%29

Also this:

Sanbõkyõdan
Zen and the Way of the New Religions
Robert H. SHARF

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachin...odan%20zen.pdf

A biographer of Kapleau Roshi sums up "Three Pillars" this way:

Quote:

---

Kraft points out that Kapleau’s book is “in large measure a book about kensho” (p.14) which in itself is problematic as for many, including some of the authors of the essays, this led to “inflated expectations… [and] [t]he discrepancy between anticipatory visions of enlightenment and actual experiences of insight”. (p.15) This disjuncture between what Kapleau wrote and the actual experiences of Zen students has led to some criticisms of The Three Pillars of Zen as a book that gives an unrealistic picture of what to expect from zazen. ...

While this emphasis on and almost inevitability of kensho is, I think, a fair criticism of The Three Pillars of Zen, there is little doubt that Kapleau’s book brought many people to the study and practice of Zen Buddhism and for that we should be grateful. It is also necessary that we understand where and how Kapleau learned his Zen practice to better understand why he wrote and taught the way he did.
http://www.thezensite.com/ZenBookRev...enpractice.htm

---

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

Thank you for the advice! I've had the book for quite some time now but never got to it. Recently I just finished a group of books (slow reader) and felt the urge to also read this one (I've bought it now so I feel I should at least read it). I noticed the book made a point of mentioning that it's talking about both Soto and Rinzai. I'm afraid I don't have the kind of intensity needed to create such a reaction lol so I'll stick with "whatever it is, is whatever it is".

My next two books are "The Heart Sutra" from Red Pine and the "Hoofprint of the Ox" by Master Sheng-yen. I'm interested in diving a little deeper into Zen and Mahayana philosophy. Luckily I chose these two from the recommended reading list on TreeLeaf so hopefully they're all good! Along with my last book "Opening the Hand of Thought" which was excellent!

I greatly appreciate the extra reading and have them bookmarked. I really resonated with what you wrote in the special reading post.

"In other words, it took me a long time to realize that "Zen Books" (not to mention "Buddhist Books" in general) come in several flavors, often by different teachers within even the same school"

Even with my limited reading I can feel a sense of this. I'll stick with what's on the recommended book list from now on!

Gassho gassho2
Mark
ST

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jundo

That book is one of the few Zen books that I actually can be heard to caution about. That book has done so much damage over the decades sending people into some pressure cooker practice in a race for big booming Kenshos! The author (Kapleau Roshi) and his teachers (Yasutan-Harada) represent a small corner of folks, not so influential in Japan but must more in the west (through the "Sambokyodan" and Maezumi Roshi's Lineage) creating a mixed Rinzai-Soto practice. That is fine, but Yasutani created a kind of high pressure "blood comes out your eyes" version of Shikantaza that is secondary to their high pressure Koan Introspection Zazen.

If you are going to read that book, I would suggest that you read the following three essays too ...

Special reading - once born twice born zen
https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...8part-not-1%29

and

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...8part-not-2%29

Also this:

Sanbõkyõdan
Zen and the Way of the New Religions
Robert H. SHARF

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachin...odan%20zen.pdf

A biographer of Kapleau Roshi sums up "Three Pillars" this way:



Gassho, Jundo

STLah

---

About ten days ago, it was Friday, which for me is a day I don't work (I've recently arranged my schedule so I only work four days a week), and, in the morning, I said to my partner, "I want to do something fun today."

I ended up spending much of the day dealing with car problems.

I don't seek fun or joy any more. :-)

Gasso,

Kirk

sat

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryumon

About ten days ago, it was Friday, which for me is a day I don't work (I've recently arranged my schedule so I only work four days a week), and, in the morning, I said to my partner, "I want to do something fun today."

I ended up spending much of the day dealing with car problems.

I don't seek fun or joy any more. :-)

Gasso,

Kirk

sat

---

Hahaha, brilliant "The Zen of fixing cars".
Reminds me of Kosho Uchiyama (if I remember correctly) saying that he didn't do anything particular for fun, but he was finding fun in whatever he was doing.

Gassho
Sat

Gassho
Sat

Ryumon, Inshin - gassho1

Inshin - if you find out where you got that Uchiyama quote, please let us know - that's very cool.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

What works for is knowing that planet earth is 4.5 billion years old and in all that time you get these few years to be here. What are the chances? Thanks, universe!! So you better make the most of that opportunity and do something with it.

Gassho
ST-lah
Shoki

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Inshin

I was reading about joy in Dharma practice yesterday and thought of sharing this talk by Roland Yuno Rech. If you have a minute it's a nice read. https://www.abzen.eu/en/teaching/tei...e-du-dharma-en


Gassho
Sat

---

This was wonderful, thank you.

Gassho,
Shujin
st

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Risho

Ryumon, Inshin - gassho1

Inshin - if you find out where you got that Uchiyama quote, please let us know - that's very cool.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

---

Hi Risho,
It's from the book "How to Cook Your Life", though he speaks more of passion for life rather than fun.

Quote:

---

At the same time, I added that I do not live my life to have
fun. The way I experience the meaning and value of my life is
by throwing all my passion for living into everything I do. I am
afraid that if having pleasure were the purpose of my life, then
three shots of whiskey a day would be it. And, if I were to take
that seriously, how could I help but think that I live anything
but a pretty wretched existence. It is vital here when talking
about the meaning of life to clearly distinguish between
emotional feelings of pleasure of joy and devoting oneself to
that passion for life.
When people complain of being unhappy and of living a
meaningless or empty life, I wonder if it is not because they
have taken it for granted that the meaning of their life is to be
found simply in some sort of emotional pleasure or joy. If you
decide that only this sort of “happiness” constitutes the
meaning of your life, then it only follows that you are going to
feel a hollowness in what you do, for there is just no such thing
as never-ending pleasure or happiness.
.....................................
Having a passion
for life means only to pour all our life forces into your true Self.Life, in terms of everything we encounter, the people with

whom we come into contact, all the material things we use and
handle every day―that is our life and our true Self, and it is
into this that we throw our life force.

---

Gassho
Sat

Thank you!

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

Thank you for that ,Inshin. Good timing for me to read that.Having one of those days.

Davegassho1
SAT/LAH

For me I find joy in positive poetry. My daughter a translator of Asian poetry trained with MFA in Asian language translation University of Iowa bought me books of poetry by Rumi and Hafiz Persian poets both with so much joy. TS Eliot’s Four Quartets, John Keats and William Wordsworth, the Sonnets of Shakespeare, Japanese classical Haiku also purchased by my daughter
What Joy as I face so much. If you can read, thank a teacher
Gassho
sat/ lah
Tai Shi.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Very wise for a lot of mundane things: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/atta...8&d=1611791745
Attachment 7008

Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StoBird

Very wise for a lot of mundane things: Attachment 7008

Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

---

Wonderful! gassho2

Gassho, J

STLah

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tai Shi

For me I find joy in positive poetry. My daughter a translator of Asian poetry trained with MFA in Asian language translation University of Iowa bought me books of poetry by Rumi and Hafiz Persian poets both with so much joy. TS Eliot’s Four Quartets, John Keats and William Wordsworth, the Sonnets of Shakespeare, Japanese classical Haiku also purchased by my daughter
What Joy as I face so much. If you can read, thank a teacher
Gassho
sat/ lah
Tai Shi.

---

Sorry for derailing the thread a bit, but i'm interested in Rumi's poems ; do you know which book i should begin with ? Found this on evil amazon, is it good ?

https://www.amazon.fr/Essential-Rumi...1831519&sr=8-5

Gassho,
Uggy,
Sat today, LAH

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StoBird

Very wise for a lot of mundane things: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/atta...8&d=1611791745
Attachment 7008

Gassho,
Tom
Sat/Lah

---

That’s getting printed out and put on my refrigerator. Thank you

gassho2
Tairin
Sat today and lah