Anyway, we spoke about this just a few days ago, in looking at Master Dogen's 'Bendowa" ... how 'Zazen' may thus appear to be well down the list ... just one of many Buddhist practices ...
... but is better seen as the very center of all ... Zazen as the heart & foundation of the Bodhisattva Virtues.
Zazen is the spindle which makes the whole record spin, baby! (for those old folks who remember 'records')
And if you think too that Zazen's just some narrow form of 'meditation' ... a little tool, bit of a mind trip, some one hit wonder ...
... change that tune!
Like that song says ...
You and I will be as free
As the birds up in the trees
... Dhyana
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
I had my annual physical today, the way they do it in Japan.
(Wow, I hope my fellow Americans soon get a national health insurance system like they have here in Japan ... let's just say that there is not an inch or opening of the body left untouched, and it cost me what a single emergency room visit used to run me in the States. As a matter of fact, an emergency room visit last week in Japan, with x-rays and tests and such, cost me the equivalent of $20 US ... and I got excellent treatment).
But, anyway, today as I was stuffed into the MRI machine, later as the tummy camera was stuffed down my throat, then as something else was stuffed somewhere for the prostate exam ... each presented a perfect time for a moment of Zazen ... (I bet you knew I was gonna say that)
POWERFUL MEDICINE ...
(I'm talking about the Zazen!)
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
Please join our weekly "Live from Treeleaf" Zazenkai meditation ...
However, for technical reasons, today's sitting has been pre-recorded.
We start with 3 floor prostrations (or deep Gassho), then chant the Heart Sutra in ENGLISH (see below), then sit about 40 minutes of Zazen, then 10 minutes of Kinhin, closing with the chants of the "Verse of Atonement" and "Four Vows".
Please join in, one and all.
Master Dogen upheld Zazen ... not only as one Buddhist Practice among many Buddhist practices ... but as ...
THEBuddhist Practice.
I think Dogen can make a good case for his assertion being right.
Zazen is what was present when the Buddha held up a flower, and his disciple Mahakasyapaoffered a subtle, wordless smile in return.
. You see, says Dogen, Zazen is rather different from mere practices of "concentration" or "meditation" as those words are usually used, and misunderstood, in Buddhist philosophy ...
Zazen is so wondrous that, says Dogen, even 'celestial beings' are moved by its power (we will talk a bit about who those 'celestial beings' are said to be).
_____________________________
Question Five:
Q. [Someone] asks, "Among the three kinds of
training [in the precepts, concentration and wisdom]
there is training in [concentration], and among the six Paramitas [the Perfections of charity, keeping the precepts, patience, diligence, the practice
of meditation and wisdom] there is [included meditation], both of which all
bodhisattvas learn from the outset and all bodhisattvas practice, regardless of
whether they are clever or stupid. The zazen [that you are discussing] now is
surely one of these [and already included]. Why do you say that the Tathagata's
[Buddha's] right Dharma is concentrated in this [one practice of zazen]?"
A. I say: The question arises because this right
Dharma-eye treasury, the supreme and great method, which is the one great matter
of the Tathagata has been called the "Zen Sect." Remember that this
title"Zen Sect" was established in China
and the east; it is not heard in India. When Great Master Bodhidharma
first stayed at ShaolinTemple in the Sung-shan mountains
and faced the wall for nine years, monks and laymen were still ignorant of the
Buddha's right Dharma, so they called [Master Bodhidharma] a Brahman man who
made a religion of zazen. Thereafter, the patriarchs of successive generations
all constantly devoted themselves to zazen. [Foolish] secular people who saw this,
not knowing the reality, talked at random of a Zazen Sect. Nowadays, dropping
the word "Za", they talk of just the Zen Sect. This interpretation is clear from
records of the patriarchs. [Zazen] should not be [considered to be the
concentration and meditation] in the six paramitas and the three kinds of
training.
That this Buddha-Dharma is the legitimate intention of
the one-to-one transmission has never been concealed through the ages. In the
order on Vulture Peak in ancient times, when the Tathagata gave the Dharma to
Venerable Mahakasyapa, transmitting the right Dharma-eye treasury and the fine
mind of nirvana, the supreme and great method, only to him, the ceremony was
witnessed directly by beings among the celestial throng which are present in
the world above, so it must never be doubted. It is a universal rule that those
celestial beings will guard and maintain the Buddha-Dharma eternally; their
efforts have never faded. Just remember that this [transmission of zazen] is
the whole truth [and complete path] of the Buddha's Dharma; nothing can be
compared with it.
From:Bendowa - A Talk about Pursuing the Truth - Nishijima-Cross[with some amendments according to Uchiyama]
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
We have been looking in recent days at the "Perfections of the Bodhisattva" ... one of which is said to be "meditation" (along with practicing charity, keeping the Precepts etc.).
"So", the questioner asks, "since all Buddhists traditionally practice 'concentration' and 'meditation' as just one of many important practices, why so do you, Dogen, push Zazen as something special among those that is at the core of .... that is the very heart of ... the Buddha's teaching?"
Dogen answers by first saying that, when Master Bodhidharma first brought his teachings to China, the Buddhist clergy there was so shocked at how he was sitting Zazen ... that they actually called him the founder of the "'Zazen' or 'Zen' Sect". That shows how much the clergy in China at the time had forgotten about, or were not practicing, "Zazen".
Anyway, says Dogen, Zazen is rather different from mere practices of "concentration" or "meditation" as those words are usually used in Buddhist philosophy ... (a subject we shall discuss tomorrow) ...
_____________________________
Question Five:
Q. [Someone] asks, "Among the three kinds of
training [in the precepts, concentration and wisdom]
there is training in [concentration], and among the six Paramitas [the Perfections of charity, keeping the precepts, patience, diligence, the practice
of meditation and wisdom] there is [included meditation], both of which all
bodhisattvas learn from the outset and all bodhisattvas practice, regardless of
whether they are clever or stupid. The zazen [that you are discussing] now is
surely one of these [and already included]. Why do you say that the Tathagata's
[Buddha's] right Dharma is concentrated in this [one practice of zazen]?"
A. I say: The question arises because this right
Dharma-eye treasury, the supreme and great method, which is the one great matter
of the Tathagata has been called the "Zen Sect." Remember that this
title"Zen Sect" was established in China
and the east; it is not heard in India. When Great Master Bodhidharma
first stayed at ShaolinTemple in the Sung-shan mountains
and faced the wall for nine years, monks and laymen were still ignorant of the
Buddha's right Dharma, so they called [Master Bodhidharma] a Brahman man who
made a religion of zazen. Thereafter, the patriarchs of successive generations
all constantly devoted themselves to zazen. [Foolish] secular people who saw this,
not knowing the reality, talked at random of a Zazen Sect. Nowadays, dropping
the word "Za", they talk of just the Zen Sect. This interpretation is clear from
records of the patriarchs. [Zazen] should not be [considered to be the
concentration and meditation] in the six paramitas and the three kinds of
training.
That this Buddha-Dharma is the legitimate intention of
the one-to-one transmission has never been concealed through the ages. In the
order on Vulture Peak in ancient times, when the Tathagata gave the Dharma to
Venerable Mahakasyapa, transmitting the right Dharma-eye treasury and the fine
mind of nirvana, the supreme and great method, only to him, the ceremony was
witnessed directly by beings among the celestial throng which are present in
the world above, so it must never be doubted. It is a universal rule that those
celestial beings will guard and maintain the Buddha-Dharma eternally; their
efforts have never faded. Just remember that this [transmission of zazen] is
the whole truth [and complete path] of the Buddha's Dharma; nothing can be
compared with it.
From:Bendowa - A Talk about Pursuing the Truth - Nishijima-Cross[with some amendments according to Uchiyama]
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
Last time, in our discussion of the Ten Pure Virtues or "Perfections" (Paramitas) of the Bodhisattva path ... we talked about "Patience" ...... and today we will talk about the Perfection of Effort and Diligence (Virya Paramita).All the perfections...
Ten Pure Virtues or "Perfections" (Paramitas in Sanskrit) are fundamental to the Bodhisattva path.Today, we will discuss the Perfection of Patience (Kshanti Paramita)If the video does not work today ... please consider it a perfect chance to put this...
We welcome back a very special guest teacher today ...... a true rock star, one of the original 'Rolling Stones'(and before anyone asks ... No, I am not 'stoned') As the sound is not very clear at points, here's...
.Someone wrote our Treeleaf Forum to comment ...I personally feel that there's a wall between me and organized zen because organized zen is either Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese, and I am none of those. I'm just a guy...
Rev. Jiho Sargent has left this little world. A Soto priest, a friend, guide, mother and tough as nails voice of reason and common sense for many people from around the world who sat Zazen with her in Tokyo...
Ten Pure Virtues or "Perfections" (Paramitas in Sanskrit) are fundamental to the Bodhisattva path.Today, we will discuss the Perfection of an ethical life, in keeping with the Precepts (Shila Paramita) (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;a sitting...
FOR TECHNICAL REASONS, TODAY'S 'LIVE' ZAZEN IS ... PRE-RECORDED! :-)Please join our weekly "Live from Treeleaf" Zazenkai meditation ...We start with 3 floor prostrations (or deep Gassho), then chant the Heart Sutra in ENGLISH (see below), then sit about...
No Talking, Just Sitting. (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended) To subscribe to "Treeleaf Zen" click here. ...
Holocaust Museum Shooting: Racism and Reaction(from The Washington Post) Police are confirming that the suspect in the shooting today outside the Holocaust Museum in Washington is identified as 88-year-old James W. von Brunn, who decries Jews, blacks on rambling,...
(BENDOWA XXXIV)Buddhists may disagree on various interpretations of the fine points of Buddhist philosophy ...... But when just sitting, in the perfect action of embodying enlightenment, there is nothing upon which to disagree ... nor anyone to disagree. In...
Sitting by ourself, alone on our Zafu, working on our little 'self' ...... seeking peace and understanding for ourself, in our own life ...... It is so easy in this practice to become very 'self' centered, doing this mostly...
Please join our JUNE MONTHLY 4-hour 'Live from Treeleaf' ZAZENKAI, recorded in "real time" and available at the following links:SMALL CAUTION: Due to a TECHNICAL GLITCH, the recording is divided into 2 parts this time as follows:00:00 - 00:50...
Ten Pure Virtues or "Perfections" (Paramitas in Sanskrit) are fundamental to the Bodhisattva path.Today, we will discuss Generosity (Dana Paramita) (remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended) To subscribe to...
(BENDOWA XXXIII)In other words .... Sometimes Buddhists teachings come without words, taught by grass, flowers, mountains, stones and such. In fact, we might say that every atom of the universe holds and preaches all the Buddha's teachings. But experiencing...
(BENDOWA XXXII)In other words ...Question: There are other popular sects of Buddhism these days that have some very ornate traditions, and they are certainly a lot more colorful than Zen. Some of their doctrines are pretty mysterious, claim to...
Some folks have written recently to ask,Hey, Jundo! What's with all the hair & the beard? I thought Zen monks are supposed to shave? Well, many Zen teachers of old had hair and/or beards ... ... and even recent...
Jundo Cohen is a Soto Zen Priest and founder and teacher of the Treeleaf Zendo--a Zen sangha (community) located in Tsukuba, Japan. Jundo was ordained in 2002 and subsequently received Dharma Transmission from Master Gudo Wafu Nishijima. He is a member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and American Zen Teachers Association . His blog, Treeleaf Zen, was designed specifically for Zen practitioners who cannot easily commute to a Zen Center due to health concerns, living in remote areas, or childcare and family needs.
On Treeleaf Zen, Jundo provides Zazen sittings, guided meditation, retreats, discussion, interaction with a teacher, and all other activities of a Zen Buddhist sangha, all fully online. Members now sit in over 20 countries. The focus is Shikantaza "Just Sitting" Zazen, as instructed by the 13th Century Japanese Master, Eihei Dogen.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
