Originally Posted by
Jundo
Hi Kim,
l would just offer that, if one is ... even for a few minutes ... rubbing painful knots, being fatigued and lying down, feeling the bomb of pain exploding, riding a stationary bike, with the attitude and faith deep in the heart that the rubbing, fatigued lying, exploding or riding is a Buddha rubbing, fatigued lying, exploding and riding, with nothing to change, add or take away (even though we also wish a lot of it would change and go away!) ... with faith that the whole universe is rubbing, fatigued lying, exploding and riding in that moment ...
... then that is Shikantaza.
On the other hand, if one is just "sitting around, twiddling one's thumbs and daydreaming," rubbing with no equanimity at all, lying down with Buddha distant, riding to get somewhere but here ... then maybe not Shikantaza, Maybe even all that is Shikantaza, but the heart can't recognize that it is so. That's okay, because on some days we just cannot find Buddha or a drop of peace and equanimity no matter how hard we try, especially when in pain. So, on those days, we just moan, rub, ride as best we can, trusting that it is Shikantaza although on that particular day, it does not feel so at all. Maybe tomorrow it will.
Gassho, J
STLah