Taken at Throssel in February 2007
Plans Change
Taken at Throssel in February 2007
Taken at Throssel in February 2007
Seeking Clarification
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,
Brightly Aliveness
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.
Sitting Still
Sometimes there is clarity of detail
and sometimes one gets too close up and what’s there goes out of focus.
Uh! and sometimes one gets so close what’s there runs away!
And sometimes there is just clarity. Brightly Alive attention.
This posting is for those who find themselves in extremity.
Witness
I sometimes wake up at night sweating at the memory of something truly awful that I saw once. I can’t remember where or when or the context but perhaps it was in a cafe on holiday, or in a car park. A distracted guy in his thirties nearby was berating his five year old son about spilling something or some other minor problem. And then suddenly that child crumpled under some terrible unseen weight of guilt and regret, profoundly apologising for his mortal sense of inadequacy, pleading and crying out “I’m sorry daddy, I’m so sorry, I’m really really sorry”. Truly awful, I still weep for that child sometimes.
The Taste of Regret, Iain of Little House in the Paddy.
Interestingly enough I have a distant memory of witnessing a similar shocking event to the one Iain speaks about. It too was played out in public. It wasn’t that long ago I think. Ah yes! It was in Tesco’s cafe in Reading near the Priory. The dad was shouting, Don’t you ever, EVER do that again. Then, coming up really close, Do you HEAR ME? The small boy was beside himself with apologies and promises. It was a truly awful scene.
Yes, one weeps for all such children