One of the more difficult teaching tasks is to talk about, or allude to, what sitting still, zazen, meditation is like. In the previous post of photographs and text I’ve alluded to meditation. Now a half a day later after posting I decided to edit. This is rare for me. Mostly text stays as it is, save for correcting typo’s and the like.

Any time one uses the word it’, which I did originally, in connection with meditation there can spring up the idea that one sits and meditates on something. In the Serene Reflection Meditation tradition we don’t interpose an object upon which one meditates. We, just sit. I’ve used what is there instead of it in an attempt to better reflect my own experience. Words are what we have to give expression. Sharpening use of them is an ever present task for me.

Also I used the word clarity in a couple of places. That again can be grasped as, Oh, right, that’s what meditation is supposed to be like. Meditation is like what it’s like, moment to moment. You will now see brightly alive used under the last photograph, as well as clarity.

In the mind of zazen there can be ‘brightly aliveness’ whilst dying, whilst in pain, whilst suffering, whilst………., whilst……., whilst………

If this post has left you with a dah! whah! in your mind I’m sorry. ‘Tis the best I can do for the moment.

A hat tip to Dave, a long time blog reader, who I met here on Sunday. It was a delight to meet you, and your friend too.

I found this quote among my notes and thought to share it with you. For many this will not be new, for others it will be.

The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity. (One is unable to notice something – because it is always before one’s eyes.) The real foundations of his enquiry do not strike a man at all. Unless that fact has at some time struck him. – And this means: we fail to be struck by what, once seen, is most striking and most powerful.

Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations, 1953, No. 125

So what’s to do?

Zen Master Dogen wrote To live by Zen is the same as to live an ordinary daily life. This is not an ordinary in the everyday kind of usage and meaning. I’d say it is an extraordinarily ordinary daily life. Please don’t think about all of this too much. Life is for living; being the best person you can be, breath by breath.