One way that most people try is discipline \u2013 when it\u2019s time to get up in the morning and sit, just get up. From what I\u2019ve seen, though, I\u2019d say this approach doesn\u2019t work very well. \u201cDiscipline\u201d tends to get colonized with the nasty parent\/harsh critic voice. Aroused from bed by that voice, what kind of zazen\u00a0can one do? Probably harsh, critical zazen.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Just as hatred never ceases by hatred\u2026harsh, critical zazen does not usually lead to love and deep reflection.\u00a0So how then can we keep going?<\/div>\n
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In my first meeting with Katagiri-roshi he instructed me to be like a long-distance train, not getting distracted by the scenery. He didn\u2019t tell me much about how to do that \u2013 that\u2019s been my problem.<\/div>\n
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A couple approaches that I\u2019ve found helpful are intention and inquiry. I\u2019ll talk about intention here and come back to inquiry later (after teaching in Omaha and seeing Nonin this weekend).<\/div>\n
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The basis of intention practice is to regularly return to the spirit of our first intention for practice. In my case, laying in bed as a little kid, I became vividly aware of my beating heart and I became aware that when it stopped, I\u2019d be dead. That scared me and I went to my mother for comfort. After a warm hug she said, \u201cGo back to bed and think about your electric train.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Distraction helped me get to sleep that night but didn\u2019t deal with the underlying issue of immanent death.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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Keeping death close at hand is one way to just get up and sit.<\/div>\n
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What was your first intention? Comments welcome.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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