Hi,
I would like to address some misconceptions about Shikantaza that I see here that incorrectly color many of the statements made by non-Shikantaza folks ...
To people who don't get the point, the Practice may seem completely illogical, as if I were describing "climbing a mountain by never getting out of bed". Obviously, that is impossible to do. We have to revolutionize how we see the world (climb the mountain) and that take lots of work (both on the Zafu and throughout our day to day lives).
However, in Shikantaza, we have an unusual way to climb the mountain. It involves several seemingly conflicting (to non-Buddhists) viewpoints that we learn to hold within without the least conflict: (1) As we climb up the mountain, sweat pouring from our brow, we must come to realize that there is no where to go, no mountain to climb, no progress even as we proceed forward; (2) We further realize that each individual step is itself "climbing the mountain completely" and is a perfect and complete step in and of itself; (3) Further, we realize that the mountain is already climbed even before and while we climb it, that we have fully arrived before we even get there!!; (4) We realize that a mountain can never be fully climbed or perceived because, like life, the possible paths and changes in scenery, its stones and grass, are endless in number; (5) We realize that by truly perceiving even one blade of grass or a single stone, the entire mountain is fully perceived; (6) We realize that the mountain is actually climbing us; (7) We realize that the climbing is actually we-ing the mountain; (8) We realize that the path needs to be kept clear of weeds and brush if it is to be passable; (9) We realize that the path is just the path, weeds and brush just weeds and brush; (10) We realize that mountain climbing is sometimes fun and cool and pleasant, sometime dull and hot and unpleasant; (11) We learn that the mountain does not think "fun/cool/pleasant" or "dull/hot/unpleasant" (11) We realize that climbing a mountain takes a lot of time; (12) We realize that climbing the mountain --IS-- time and --IS-- 'We'; (13) We realize that climbing a mountain is timeless (14) {NO WORDS HERE} ... I could go on and on, as there are countless more like this. We learn to hold each and all simultaneously, without the slightest conflict.
Together with all that, we keep trudging up the mountain step by step. Thus, "A single step upon the mountain is the mountain fully climbed", i.e., "A moment of Zazen is Enlightenment Itself"
Unless you come to see Zazen (as Shikantaza) that way (as the entire New York Transit and Highway system, and not just a single avenue heading north from 'A' to 'B'), you will not get it. I think most Buddhists think that they are trying to get from A (delusion) to B (Enlightenment). All this talk about "ordinary beings" and the path to "becoming Buddha" is just their seeing the one road that goes from A to B. They do not see that "Enlightenment" is the City of New York itself, and "Delusion" (like the old movie title) trying to "Escape from New York".
QUOTE(Namdrol)
Not terribly effectively, all this cutting and cutting-- its like taking a machete to the Amazon.
No matter how much one cuts, if it is not cut at the very root, it just grows back-- and that in the nutshell is the problem with your Zazen, and all meditation of ordinary people for that matter, whether sutra or tantra. You are just cutting the leaves and branches, and not getting to the root.
I just came from the dentist, so let me answer this way:
Some people treat so-called "Delusion" like a bad tooth to be pulled out (pulled out by the root, to use your image). That just creates an empty gap, though you believe that the gap will naturally be filled with a bright new tooth. Not by itself it will not.
Instead the way to take care of one's teeth and smile is to tend to their care every day, brushing and flossing and seeing the dentist regularly, allowing the dirt and plaque to accumulate and repeatedly wiping it away. The important thing is to know that getting food and dirt in your teeth with every meal is natural, that there is nothing "wrong" with it even as we brush and floss, or that there is not even any true "dirt" (See the famous poem by the 6th Patriarch).
You know, in my real garden I pull out lots of weeds by the roots. That is necessary. But, soon enough, other weeds grow back. That is just nature and cannot be completely avoided. I just have to accept the fact that a garden is both flowers and weeds ... even as I keep pulling weeds.
In fact, I dare say that envisioning a garden that is always only flowers, and never weeds, is a dream. In fact, it would be an artificial, lifeless place, like a hothouse garden, a step short of planting plastic flowers. The trick, instead, is to tend to the weeds, and pull weeds, even as we allow the garden its true and wild nature. I think. To think otherwise may be a mistaken view of gardening, and of Buddhism, I think.
(Question: Is that "sudden" "gradual" "both" or "neither"???)
QUOTE(DustyZafu)
There is little point in confusing a single conquered manifestation of the poisons with a total, permanent victory over them. Anyone who engages in introspection should be acutely aware that he is still prone to greed, hatred, and delusion... until the time when he isn't. Here we've seen temporary pacification (if we even assent that his practice accomplishes that, which isn't clear) explicitly confused with something it isn't.
However, there is something to be said for an ordinary person changing his mental habits and we can accomplish this through meditation.
QUOTE(DavidRinzai)
If this was true about Zazen then one would be fully realised when Zazen is finished
No one can sit on their bum all their life.
If all the suttas/sutras were realised in one moment of Zazen, What happens about said realisation once Zazen is over?
Zazen is never over, even when it is over for the day. (As well, Zazen is everything during the day: Washing the dishes is Zazen, going to the bathroom is Zazen). One is fully realized even when one does not realize that one is fully realized. It is vital that this be kept in mind.
Weeds grow back even as we pull them from the garden by the roots. To fail to understand this is to fail to understand both gardens and Buddhism (imho). To demand that "only a garden completely without weeds = enlightenment" is dream Buddhism, and completely misunderstands the Buddha's message. This is so, even as we pull out weeds.
Not to realize that one is originally enlightened is primordial delusion. To quote the Heart Sutra ...
No ignorance, no end to ignorance;
No old age and death; no cessation of old age and death
No suffering, no cause or end to suffering,
No path, no wisdom and no gain.
No gain – thus Bodhisattvas live this Prajna Paramita
With no hindrance of mind –
No hindrance therefore no fear.
Far beyond all such delusion, Nirvana is already here.
Gassho, Jundo