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<\/a><\/p>\nI stumbled on this edited snippet of a Katagiri Roshi talk the other night while looking for something else. Seems like it might be good grounding advice for those of you reading this blog and the Zen Forum International discussion about shikantaza and koans.<\/span><\/p>\nOne person not steeped in Soto Zen said to me the other day, \u201cI read what\u2019s being said, but don\u2019t understand a word.\u201d I hope this is different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Btw, Roshi refers to a \u201cZen master\u201d and is commenting on something this person said but doesn\u2019t give a name.\u00a0\n<\/p><\/span>Here is a zen master\u2019s explanation of zazen:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\u201cIn zazen we leave everything to the figure of zazen. It is not sleeping. It is not thinking. We must be awakened clearly.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nWe believe that zazen is to get tranquility by concentrating on breath. It is part of zazen. Real zazen is leaving everything to the figure of zazen. Zazen is just total presence. The figure is the physical structure of your body.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nLet go of your hold of your head. Then there is very clear awakening.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\u201cIt is natural that thoughts flash on us from moment to moment.<\/span><\/span>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nThoughts arising is not something wrong. Very naturally, thoughts come up. The more quiet you are, the more aware you are of how subtle thinking is. The problem is when you see a flash of thought you start to run after. Then you throw your life into what you have thought, completely becoming dragged away. We grab thoughts with our head and fabricate a world.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nPeace is not inside or outside. Peace is right in the midst of the functioning of zazen. You think that by zazen you will become peaceful. At that time, peace is already outside. When you feel peaceful by zazen you feel peace inside. But this isn\u2019t real peace and harmony. Next moment it disappears. Real peace and harmony which is blooming from moment to moment, not in the idea, but in the midst of the process of zazen.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\u201cEven though many thoughts come across our mind, lose your hold on your head. Refrain from any fabrication, leaving a flash of thoughts to take its own course, leaving the disappearance of thought to take its own course.<\/span><\/span>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\u201cRefrain\u201d is not hatred. \u201cRefrain\u201d is to be modest. Modify yourself and<\/span><\/span> <\/span>your attitude toward fabrication. Don\u2019t fight or mettle. This is very delicate. We have to learn through actual practice following this suggestion. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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