Blackness during Zazen
Dear Nishijima Roshi,
First of all, thanks for having this channel to allow westerns like me to get in touch with you and freely ask questions about our practice. Saudações do Brasil ! =)
My question is: during my practice of zazen (or would it be shikantaza, because I don't focus on anything like my hara in specific ?) sometimes (not always, but frequently) it happens that for a long time I lose awareness of everything -- of myself, of time, of my mind, of objects -- everything. I sit and it feels like 10 minutes have passed, when in fact one hour or more have passed. Is this alright ? Am I doing something wrong ? It is almost as if I fell in deep sleep, except that I don't think this is the case because I had my wife watching me to see if this was the case, which wasn't.
I have never received formal instructions on how to practice zazen, so I take into consideration the written instructions I've read in books like "The Three Pillars of Zen", for example -- just sit quietly and let thoughts come and go by themselves, not attaching nor repulsing them. I don't keep my focus on my hara or anything else, I just don't focus on anything specific.
Thank you !
Daniel
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(Gudo's answer) I remember that the auther of "The Three Pillars of Zen" belongs to Master Sogaku Harada's lineage, but Master Sogaku Harada, even though he belonged to Soto Sect, he visited Rinzai Sect, and coming back to Soto Sect, he insisted that Rinzai Sect's theory was right. But I never think so.
(Daniel's reply and question) I understand it now ! Then it's good, because I have never meditated having something as focus. What about the lack of awareness of objects I mentioned on the question, is that normal or does it mean I am doing something wrong, because I am supposed to be always aware ?
Thank you for your kind answer!
First of all, thanks for having this channel to allow westerns like me to get in touch with you and freely ask questions about our practice. Saudações do Brasil ! =)
My question is: during my practice of zazen (or would it be shikantaza, because I don't focus on anything like my hara in specific ?) sometimes (not always, but frequently) it happens that for a long time I lose awareness of everything -- of myself, of time, of my mind, of objects -- everything. I sit and it feels like 10 minutes have passed, when in fact one hour or more have passed. Is this alright ? Am I doing something wrong ? It is almost as if I fell in deep sleep, except that I don't think this is the case because I had my wife watching me to see if this was the case, which wasn't.
I have never received formal instructions on how to practice zazen, so I take into consideration the written instructions I've read in books like "The Three Pillars of Zen", for example -- just sit quietly and let thoughts come and go by themselves, not attaching nor repulsing them. I don't keep my focus on my hara or anything else, I just don't focus on anything specific.
Thank you !
Daniel
-------------------------------------
(Gudo's answer) I remember that the auther of "The Three Pillars of Zen" belongs to Master Sogaku Harada's lineage, but Master Sogaku Harada, even though he belonged to Soto Sect, he visited Rinzai Sect, and coming back to Soto Sect, he insisted that Rinzai Sect's theory was right. But I never think so.
(Daniel's reply and question) I understand it now ! Then it's good, because I have never meditated having something as focus. What about the lack of awareness of objects I mentioned on the question, is that normal or does it mean I am doing something wrong, because I am supposed to be always aware ?
Thank you for your kind answer!
posted by ZenCodeMonkey | 1:26 PM
1 Comments:
Dear Nishijima Roshi,
First of all, thanks for having this channel to allow westerns like me to get in touch with you and freely ask questions about our practice. Saudações do Brasil ! =)
My question is: during my practice of zazen (or would it be shikantaza, because I don't focus on anything like my hara in specific ?) sometimes (not always, but frequently) it happens that for a long time I lose awareness of everything -- of myself, of time, of my mind, of objects -- everything. I sit and it feels like 10 minutes have passed, when in fact one hour or more have passed. Is this alright ? Am I doing something wrong ? It is almost as if I fell in deep sleep, except that I don't think this is the case because I had my wife watching me to see if this was the case, which wasn't.
(Gudo's opinion) I clearly notice that your interpretation of Zazen is true.
It is very laughale situations that many people much worry about the state of the abdomen. Of course it is the place, where the autonomic nervous system is densely collected, but it is not necessary for us to worry about it. The most important point in Zazen is to keep the spine straight vertically identifying it with the line of gravity.
(Daniel San's question) I have never received formal instructions on how to practice zazen, so I take into consideration the written instructions I've read in books like "The Three Pillars of Zen", for example -- just sit quietly and let thoughts come and go by themselves, not attaching nor repulsing them. I don't keep my focus on my hara or anything else, I just don't focus on anything specific.
(Gudo's answer) I remember that the auther of "The Three Pillars of Zen" belongs to Master Sogaku Harada's lineage, but Master Sogaku Harada, even though he belonged to Soto Sect, he visited Rinzai Sect, and coming back to Soto Sect, he insisted that Rinzai Sect's theory was right. But I never think so.
Gudo Wafu Nishijima
Thank you !
Daniel
posted by ZenCodeMonkey at 1:26 PM on Jan 22,
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