"Buddha nature is our original nature; we have it before we practice zazen and before we acknowledge it in terms of consciousness."--Shunryu Suzuki
If we already have Buddha nature, then why do we practice zazen?
Even though we have Buddha nature, as long as we live under a delusion, we will behave as if we do not have it. We have difficulty because we do not realize that we are a part of reality. We imagine that we are separate from life.
That is why we practice zazen: To become aware of our true existence. We must learn how to turn our desire back to a universe that knows no good or evil.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Beyond Consciousness
"You should establish your practice in your delusion."--Dogen-zenji
Strictly speaking, there is nothing else for us to work on except the present moment. To express our sincerity and true nature on each moment is the way of practice.
If we think otherwise, that is a delusion. When we live in the past or the future, we wander around the goal with our monkey mind. But when we make our effort in the present moment, then even though we live under a delusion, our true mind is there.
The purpose of Zen practice is to strengthen our conviction that we already have what we are looking for.
The Christian monk understood this point when he prayed, "Help my unbelief!" We have to believe that we are worthy of the gift of life even though we can do nothing to make ourselves worthy. When we are aware of this truth, there is enlightenment.
Strictly speaking, there is nothing else for us to work on except the present moment. To express our sincerity and true nature on each moment is the way of practice.
If we think otherwise, that is a delusion. When we live in the past or the future, we wander around the goal with our monkey mind. But when we make our effort in the present moment, then even though we live under a delusion, our true mind is there.
The purpose of Zen practice is to strengthen our conviction that we already have what we are looking for.
The Christian monk understood this point when he prayed, "Help my unbelief!" We have to believe that we are worthy of the gift of life even though we can do nothing to make ourselves worthy. When we are aware of this truth, there is enlightenment.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Original Buddhism
"How to sit is how to act. We study how to act by sitting, and this is the most basic activity for us."--Shunryu Suzuki
We must seek to understand how we are trained by darkness and enslaved by fear. We must seek the Truth.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Experience, Not Philosophy
"To find the meaning of our effort is to find the original source of our effort. We should not be concerned about the result of our effort before we know its origin."--Shunryu Suzuki
There is a certain danger in education. In American society, many people are educated. We have specialists, pundits, loud mouths and know-it-alls.
But, perhaps, the best way to obtain wisdom is not to gather knowledge from books. Perhaps the best way is to let go all you have learned and to discover something new and different in each moment.
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.
There is a certain danger in education. In American society, many people are educated. We have specialists, pundits, loud mouths and know-it-alls.
But, perhaps, the best way to obtain wisdom is not to gather knowledge from books. Perhaps the best way is to let go all you have learned and to discover something new and different in each moment.
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Calmness
"We should find out the meaning of our effort before we attain something."--Shunryu Suzuki
This attitude and understanding is very, very important. If we think the purpose of Zen is to attain enlightenment, we will lose our way. It is the effort that counts. The meaning lies in the effort.
Because we are usually attached to the result of our effort, we end up sacrificing ourselves now for some future attainment. As Zen Master Suzuki points out, we end up with nothing.
The purpose of Zen to to express our true nature on each moment. When we practice on this moment, we already have enlightenment even if we are not aware of it.
Which is more important: ...to make a million dollars, or to enjoy your life in your effort, little by little, even though it is impossible to make that million; to be successful, or to find some meaning in your effort to be successful? If you do not know the answer, you will not even be able to practice zazen; if you do know, you will have found the true treasure of life.
This attitude and understanding is very, very important. If we think the purpose of Zen is to attain enlightenment, we will lose our way. It is the effort that counts. The meaning lies in the effort.
Because we are usually attached to the result of our effort, we end up sacrificing ourselves now for some future attainment. As Zen Master Suzuki points out, we end up with nothing.
The purpose of Zen to to express our true nature on each moment. When we practice on this moment, we already have enlightenment even if we are not aware of it.
Which is more important: ...to make a million dollars, or to enjoy your life in your effort, little by little, even though it is impossible to make that million; to be successful, or to find some meaning in your effort to be successful? If you do not know the answer, you will not even be able to practice zazen; if you do know, you will have found the true treasure of life.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Attachment, Nonattachment
"Zazen practice and everyday activity are one thing."--Shunryu Suzuki
We practice zazen in order to discover the one activity that includes all activity.
So, what is it? We cannot know. We must discover for ourselves what true zazen practice is.
We practice zazen in order to discover the one activity that includes all activity.
So, what is it? We cannot know. We must discover for ourselves what true zazen practice is.
There is much wit and humor in the following anonymous saying: Zen is not what you think!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Believing in Nothing
"Using the Buddhist terminology, we should begin with enlightenment and proceed to practice, and then to thinking."--Shunryu Suzuki
The great Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, speaks of Christian contemplation as turning our spirituality right-side in. This is true of Zen practice as well.
The purpose of zazen is to have a well-ordered mind. When we move from enlightenment to practice and then to thinking, we see things are they are and we accept things as they go.
This is a very scientific understanding. Here there is no superstition. Here there is no fear.
Most of us are walking around unaware that our shirts are on inside out. This may be cute in a child, but it is hardly fashionable in an adult.
When someone points out that we are wearing our shirt inside out, we may feel chagrined. But no matter how we feel, we should at once work on fixing the problem. We should work on turning our spirituality right-side in.
The great Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, speaks of Christian contemplation as turning our spirituality right-side in. This is true of Zen practice as well.
The purpose of zazen is to have a well-ordered mind. When we move from enlightenment to practice and then to thinking, we see things are they are and we accept things as they go.
This is a very scientific understanding. Here there is no superstition. Here there is no fear.
Most of us are walking around unaware that our shirts are on inside out. This may be cute in a child, but it is hardly fashionable in an adult.
When someone points out that we are wearing our shirt inside out, we may feel chagrined. But no matter how we feel, we should at once work on fixing the problem. We should work on turning our spirituality right-side in.
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