Zazen vs shikantaza pdf

Generally speaking, zazen can be described in three phases. And if you want to go further, check to see if you have a local s. An introduction to zazen published by the kyoto sotozen center. Once or twice a day, i sit facing a wall in my home1. Shikantaza vs focused attention meditation and how ewk owes me money. Thats important, too, but zazen isnt something you do just in your head. Ive always said there is a difference between the two, and ive always said zen masters shit talked focused attention not open awareness. Pdf in this paper, i explore shikantaza, the soto zen practice of just sitting, through the phenomenological lens of late edmund husserl and maurice. Hui neng the nature of mind is buddha from the beginning. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. First thing he did after went back to japan was writing manual of zazen, and.

The practice of zen meditation is sometimes called mokusho, or silent. But actually, when we do zazen we immediately sit in the same condition of body and mind as gautama buddha, the founder of buddhism, and in a sense there is no dif. Zazen is fundamentally a useless and pointless activity. Okumura roshi has been sitting zazen for over 35 years and is an acclaimed zen buddhist teacher, translator and author. Modern day doctors are now prescribing meditation as a way of. Zen master hongzhi zhengjue and silent illumination part ii. There seems to be a common misunderstanding about zazen, which some people think of as a technique for reaching a state of no thought. Essential writings on the zen practice of shikantaza. Shikantaza is best practiced under the guidance of a teacher, lest it become what eido roshi once called shikanwaste of time. The zazen of buddhaancestors is not like this, but is simply buddhas practice. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the zazen, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Should a beginner start with counting breathing rather then go straight into shikantaza practice. If you would like to explore the practice, i would recommend that you visit jundo cohens tree leaf zendo at there you will find detailed instructions, as well as a daily opportunity to sit with jundo in shikantaza. Cast off the numberless concerns and rest free from entangling yourself in the buddhist way or the worldly way.

Im not an authorized teacher in any zen organization but ive learned from some great people and its fun to turn around and teach when i get the chance. What is the difference between zazen and shikantaza. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Shusho itto oneness and equality of practice and realization rev. Ive been sitting zazen for over 20 years, but only recently have i had the guts to really do shikantaza, or just sitting, and it feels profoundly liberating. Zen meditation is an ancient buddhist tradition that dates back to the tang dynasty in 7th century china. The scholarly answer to that question is that zen is a school of mahayana buddhism that emerged in china about 15 centuries ago. In short, zazen is a buddhist practice to settle your mind in its original state. From its chinese origins it spread to korea, japan and other asian lands where it continues to thrive.

If you would like to explore the practice, i would recommend that you visit jundo cohens tree leaf zendo at. Unlike many other forms of meditation, shikantaza does not require focused attention. However, the third, adjusting the mind, is done very differently in the two practices. Regular practice of zazen generates a peaceful mind, a clear. The first and second are the same both in koan zen and shikantaza. Pdf in this paper, i explore shikantaza, the soto zen practice of just sitting, through the phenomenological lens of late edmund husserl and. Zen meditation, or zazen, has attracted the interest of many psychotherapists. Zazen, seated meditation, is the practice which allowed the buddha to attain enlightenment 2600 years ago.

Keeping the moral precepts of buddhism, both in our outward behavior and in service to others, as well as in the inner practice of cleansing our own hearts. This means that we as followers of soto zen buddhism should practice shikantaza according to the correct dharma purely transmitted by the buddhaancestors. By shikantaza zen masters nyojo and dogen tried to convey the idea of both singlemindedly and daily. I would like people who have a long experience with zazen meditation to explain if they consider that counting and observing the breath was helpful to progress in their meditation practice or not. Sep 28, 2014 for more about shikantaza, see the art of just sitting. This zazen develops what can be developed only when we drop all need for development and change, sitting in the wholeness of that. And because its so easy to deceive ourselves with a story about just sitting, it. Shikantaza zazen is sitting in nonseeking, and the way of breathing instructed by master dogen and other early soto zen ancestors according to the teachings which they have left us is breathing nonseeking. The upright open posture of zazen, which can be done on a cushion, a bench, or in a chair, fosters both concentrated stillness and insight zen master dogens simple advice is this. Shikantaza is an advanced practice for those who have developed equanimity. Exploring shikantaza, retreats, and koans greater boston. Zazen is the polishing of the jewel that shines brilliantly whether seen or unseen, and thus cant be polished. In therevadin countries the monks are no longer mendicants and separated from the people and life and see enlightenment in this lifetime as impossible as a result.

The four words together mean oneness and equality of practice and realization. Chan is the chinese rendering of the sanskrit word dhyana, which refers to a mind absorbed in meditation. The way of zazen by shodo harada roshi every year when december approaches, monks everywhere tremble in anticipation of the arrival of the rohatsu osesshin. Browse other questions tagged meditationzazen shikantaza or ask your own question. Discipline is usually understood as ceasing wrong action and eliminating evil. As a central form of meditation in zen buddhism, zazen is usually coupled with study and teaching to help develop greater clarity in our practice. However, the initial introduction to zen meditation or zazen lesson is about the same no matter whether the teacher. Such a mind knows directly the phenomenal reality arising from the primordial ground pratitya samutpada, tendrel nyingpo is simply the prior unity of the two truthsrelative appearance and absolute emptinessthe. Aug 07, 2015 what is the difference between a bird and a penguin. One of my teachers often reminded us that zazen is a body practice, like dancing or walking. Zen is the japanese pronunciation of the chinese word chan, which is the chinese pronunciation o. In this kind of zazen, you utterly let go of doing anything except just sitting there.

If youre feeling under pressure, experimenting with meditation can help. Some small suzuki roshi on shikantaza from suzuki roshi archive. To begin practicing zen meditation, find a comfortable place and position. Jul 12, 2017 so what about what goes on in your head. The instructions are simple, but the practice is endlessly subtle. The serene reflection meditation tradition embodies. So toif you practice our way, even without any gaining idea, or even without any idea of. A short introduction to the serene reflection meditation. Zoketsu norman fischer one way to categorize the meditation practice of shikantaza, or just sitting, is as an objectless meditation.

Oct 17, 2019 shikantaza zazen is not meditation, is not development, and thus creates no karma. Rinzai zen is associated with formal koan contemplation, whereas the soto meditation practice is called shikantaza just sitting. It involves focusing on the breath and remaining in the present moment. The soto school of japan, on the other hand, only rarely incorporates koans into zazen, preferring an approach where the mind has no object at all, known as shikantaza. Most of what i will say is based on the writings of dogen zenji, the founder of our lineage of soto zen buddhism. Zen emphasizes rigorous selfrestraint, meditationpractice, insight into the nature of mind, ch. Reader on shikantaza roshi joan halifax all buddhas and every ancestor without exception arrive at this refuge where the three times cease and the ten thousand changes are silent. Although dogen is critical of that original manual and definitely brings. Shikantaza shikantaza, sometimes called just sitting, is the subtle and radically nondual practice at the heart of soto zen practice. If it available for your country it will shown as book reader and user fully subscribe will benefit by having full access to all books. The term zen is derived from the japanese pronunciation of the middle chinese word. Zazen is enlightenment itself some schools of buddhism teach that zazen is a method to reach enlightenment. Zen mind, beginners mind, is one of the best books to get a good introduction to zen. I often find that people think of zazen as a solution to personal sufferings and problems or the cultivation of an individual.

The instructions for zazen direct the disciple to sit in a quiet room, breathing rhythmically and easily, with legs fully or half crossed, spine and head erect, hands folded one palm above the other, and eyes open. In zen dojos everywhere people intensify their training energy in preparation for this osesshin, held from the first to the eighth of december. Essential writings on the zen practice of shikantaza should be basic reading for anyone new to zen. Dogen zenji, the founder of the soto zen buddhist lineage in japan also taught that shikantaza practice is more than simply. In the west, zazen is usually translated as zen meditation or sitting. Introducing the moderator council and its first, protempore, representatives. Because shikantaza is so easily misconstrued, at gbzc, we teach shikantaza only after someone has gained substantial familiarity with breathcounting. The core expression and practice of soto zen buddhist teachings is zazen. Shikantaza means just sitting in japanese, and to just sit. But later in tahuis shobogenzo, they were respectively changed to ikkouzazen singleminded zazen and tadakoretasui daily sleeping.

But a different perspective on zazen is provided by kodo sawaki roshis words, zazen is to tune into the universe. The advice regarding the posture of meditation is very similar among the different styles of seated practice, so i will go in to more detail about it only once, when talking about the first technique zen meditation i have strived to include a is it for me. The precise meaning and method of zazen varies from school to school, but in general it can be regarded. If your experience of zazen remains locked up in your skull, you arent doing it right. Logical, analytic thinking should be suspended, as should all desires, attachments, and judgments, leaving the mind in a state of. Zazen practice 5 zazen is a romanized japanese term. Generally speaking, religious practice aims at improving the practitioners religious qualities. But in comparison to koan practice, webecause we dont use, you know, koan, people say that is shikantaza.

Shikantaza vs focused attention meditation and how ewk owes. He is the head priest and founder of sanshin zen community located in bloomington, indiana. Shusho itto oneness and equality of practice and realization. I thought id do a quick instruction writeup for zazen shikantaza. Marian taped his talks and soon saw that as the group developed the talks acquired a conti. If you ever study formally in one of those schools, this distinction will be very important. Reader on shikantaza upaya zen center, santa fe, 20. Such an understanding of zazen assumes that a certain state of mind can be reached by manipulation, technique or method. This means that we as followers of soto zen buddhism should. Shikan means, you know, to be involved in zazen completely. Mindfulness is being mindful of something and shikantaza is being mindful of nothing in particular. Shikantaza zazen is not meditation, is not development, and thus creates no karma.

Apr 10, 2010 zen temples in japan are passed from father to son. In zazen we move from the head to the heart and into our buddhanature. It is a collection of essays and commentaries on zazen sitting zen, or sitting concentration written by masters from china, japan, and the west. Jul 28, 2019 zazen is being awake but letting go, experiencing your present moment awareness without thought or story. Suzukiroshi joined the zazen meditations of this group once or twice a week, and after each meditation period he would talk to them, encouraging their practice and help ing them with their problems. The japanese term zen is a derivative of the chinese word chan, itself a translation of the indian term dhyana, which means. I sit for twenty minutes, a halfhour, sometimes more. For a history on the origin of the faithbased buddhist practice called zazen, read dogens manuals of zen meditation by bielefeldt. Shikantaza, or just sitting, is the most direct of practices in all of buddhism. Zazen is a type of meditation unique to zen buddhism.

In the japanese rinzai school, zazen is usually associated with the study of koans. What is the difference between a bird and a penguin. How to begin zen meditation steps to your first zen. Some small suzuki roshi on shikantaza from suzuki roshi. Actually, zazen is much more than sitting in meditation. What follows isnt a comprehensive treatment but will provide a ballpark idea on what to expect in zazenland. Some small suzuki roshi on shikantaza from suzuki roshi archive student a. It is the heart of zen buddhism, during which attention is placed on the exact alignment of the posture, the natural flow of the breath, and the rise and fall of thoughts. Some things are just better done with other people e. I discuss why beginners are usually taught to count or follow breaths instead of do shikantaza, and why i think this is unfortunate.

Hi, most zen folks do not realize that the actual master linji yixuan master rinzai. Zazen instruction the following is a written record of a zazen instruction class given by shohaku okumura to a group of students. This is the zen practice of shikantaza, or just sitting. Zen refers to seeing into the reality of the way things are. Zazen is also known as shikantaza or simply sitting. We say there is no such thing like shikantaza, you know, actually. Zazen is also not based upon discipline, practice, or wisdom. Some sectarian differences are noted under difficulties and expedients. A most unusual paradox the spiritual teachings that have arisen within the primordial great wisdom tradition of. We could say that the situation of buddhas house is the one in which the essence, practice, and expounding are one and the same. Shikantaza vs focused attention meditation and how ewk. The practice began with shakyamuni buddha who devoted himself to zazen and eventually realized enlightenment. As with dzogchen, zen is the nondual beyond subject and object, concept and.