Shikantaza: The Non-Benefits of Zazen
If one is sitting Shikantaza Zazen, waiting for something to happen, thinking it a tool to eventually produce some effect or result (such as peace, calm, wisdom, enlightenment), treating Shikantaza like a medicine judged by its efficacy and efficiency to cure one's suffering or to reveal the universe ... if one considers Shikantaza a "technique" or "method" by which, just by keeping the right posture, breathing the proper way, not grabbing thoughts and staying diligent in sitting each day, one need but wait for the good payoff and promised reward ...
... then, oh then, one is sitting Shikantaza WRONG! :(
If there is, however, the sitting of Shikantaza for sitting's sake, sitting as the self-fulfillment of sitting itself (a non-self fulfilling prophesy), with FAITH & TRUST, unvoiced deep in the bones, that nothing is lacking from sitting, that this place and instant of sitting sweeps in all space and time and nothing is lacking anywhere ... that sitting itself is a sacred act, all Buddhas and Ancestors sitting in this one instant of sitting ... that nothing more need happen, not one drop need be added or removed from this moment of sitting, that all is as it is ... then the hungry, judging little self is put out of a job, as the hard borders and frictions between oneself and all the world begin to soften, sometimes fully drop away. One sits beyond all judgements of "right vs. wrong" in the abiding equanimity of sitting itself ...
... and thus Shikantaza is RIGHT! :encouragement:
Zazen is just Zazen, and the world is just the world. Consider Zazen as but another tool or secret to fix something in life that's incomplete, and, sure enough, Zazen and the world are incomplete. Sit with CONVICTION that Zazen is whole and complete, and all is rendered whole and complete. Shikantaza Zazen is made by the attitude and FAITH brought to it ... namely, a faith and awareness that there is no making of a Buddha, nothing to bring or take away ... which very Wisdom is what Buddhas know and the makings of Buddhas!
Then, getting up from the cushion, returning to a world of goals and problems to fix, getting back to work and back to our vows to make this world better, living gently and compassionately but pushing on, the light of wholeness and completion will shine in one's heart too.
Heck, one might actually find that, through this non-doing, giving up the hunt and goal driven hunger for payoffs even as one keeps walking forward in life, gettin' er done, one does become more patient, content, confident, joyous, peaceful and all the rest, freed from suffering ... and there is awakening too. [claps]
Zazen is tricky that way. ;)
Gassho, Jundo
STLah
Sorry to run long
