Category Archives: Teachings

Daily Life, Overcome Difficulties, Teachings

Seeking Clarification

1 Comment

Continuing on the theme of meditation here is a question sent by a reader on the subject of the advisability of meditating on a question or problem in formal zazen.

Hi There,
Was hoping you might be able to clarify something for me. I have read in a few books that if you have a problem, or something that you are unsure about, and are seeking some sort of solution or clarity on it, that you should meditate on it. Does this mean that during meditation you should actively think about it and see what comes up during meditation? Or does it just mean that you just devote some time to just thinking about that one thing, rather than literally meaning meditate on it?

Kind Rgards

This is the somewhat expanded, and edited, version of my reply:

Dear Friend,
In our practice we don’t bring any deliberate thought into the formal meditation. There is no object upon which we meditate, there is simply paying attention to what is there, moment by imperceptible moment. That might include a question or problem, however one does not then deliberately start to think about it. So, while sitting formally in meditation we simply ‘let be’ neither rejecting nor hanging on, to anything. Bit like being present in a river and being the river, at the same time.

There ‘is’ obviously a place for deliberately thinking about a problem or question, however that’s ‘deliberately deciding’ to think about something. We have the power of reason and that together with ones sense of what’s right/good to do, or not do, is about how one proceeds. That along with the teaching and guidance of the Precepts.

This is the short answer. There is much that could be said. And since I know you will be here at some point for a retreat I advise you to ask your question in person.

In gassho,

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Teachings

Brightly Aliveness

3 Comments

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.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Out and About, Teachings

Sitting Still

3 Comments

up_close.jpg
Sometimes there is clarity of detail

out_of_focus.jpg
and sometimes one gets too close up and what’s there goes out of focus.

Sheep_on_the_hill.jpg
Uh! and sometimes one gets so close what’s there runs away!

Water_droplets_on_grass.jpg
And sometimes there is just clarity. Brightly Alive attention.

This posting is for those who find themselves in extremity.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Teachings

Breathing Life

2 Comments

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.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life, Teachings

Seven Days a Week

5 Comments

Seven days a week. Meditation-ceremonies-meals-community teas-business meetings-more meals and teas-washing up-walking in the rain-talking in the rain….singing in the rain! Then there is doing laundry-washing self-preparing for ceremonies-cleaning boots-sewing robes-answering emails-multiple refuge phone calls-lay ministry business. Not to mention-medical appointments-driving people to the airport-delivering cars for repair-shopping-non medical appointments. Yes and there is sleep too. Seven nights a week.

Then there is writing for Jade Mountains. This has to be in my spare time. This tends to be when everybody else is asleep. Everybody else is asleep!

Now that I’ve landed back in the monastery again postings are likely to be less frequent and responding to comments will be patchy at best. I’ll do my best to do what I can though. And thank you for leaving your comments by the way, all of them.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email