Sitting

I have been very lax on my sitting lately. My work schedule has been different for the last two weeks throwing everything off. It would be easy to blame not sitting on this, but I would be lying to myself. I have been putting it off to do other mindless things like watching TV. I can feel it beginning to affect my life already. I am more moody, touchy, jumpy and even a little paranoid at work. It's amazing how just sitting for 30 minutes a day keeps my head in place :-)

Timing

Wow, oh the timing :-) Every time my sitting starts to slip, I seem to get a friendly reminder from one of my teachers .... and he's across the country, wow he's good :-)

With palms together,

Good Morning All,

Our practice is not talking practice, its not philosophy practice, its practice practice. Zazen is something we all would like to do. Many people want to meditate. Few do.

Everything is a problem. Not enough time. Our back hurts. Our legs hurt. Its too noisy. There is nowhere in our homes that we feel comfortable. Our spouses aren't supportive. We have children, dogs, cats, jobs... you get the idea.

All of these, however, are not problems. They are real opportunities. Zazen is not outward, it is inward. Zazen is about our attitude: right understanding. When our understanding is correct, then everything becomes zazen.

So, what is correct understanding? When we are completely present with ourselves and our activity. When the map, compass, body, and mind are in complete alignment, that is right understanding. With this understanding every step is the correct step, naturally.

We attain correct understanding, however through our practice of seated meditation and mindfulness.

Therefore, it is important to find five minutes to be still. Five minutes to place your attention on yourself and your environment as if you were simply there as a witness. Five minutes of serene reflection. If not five minutes, then one minute. If not one minute, then thirty seconds. Become a 30 second master!

Its rather like prayer, you know, No need for a fancy church or synagogue or mosque. No need for a priest, minister, or rabbi. No need for an official time, public pronouncement, advertisement of any sort. Just do it.

Be well.

Rev. Harvey So Daiho Hilbert, Ph.D.
http://www.zencenteroflascruces.org