aim

• our goal is an idea, and the place at which we arrive is real

  Genjo-koan 5: Freedom Within Limits Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

The most important texts

1. Effort for Its Own Sake ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

   to make effort for the sake of making effort is a very unusual attitude in Europe

   effort for the sake of effort · giving up the aim now · goal as only an idea · Himalayan expedition · Western bias towards achieving goals
2. The Map in Our Head ●●● May 2012 — Nová Dedinka

   But we couldn't see the hut. But we believed the hut was at the end of the path.

   goal as only an idea · perfect Zen practitioner as a plan · rich person who is not happy · step different from the plan · walking toward an unseen hut

Other texts

3. The Buddhist View of Living Itself ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

   So in that sense, we have to keep throwing it away, but we also need it

   changing view in the mountains · goal as only an idea · having and throwing away goals
4. Opposites and Being Upright ●●● July 2009 — Brno

   But eventually he realised that we make effort just for the sake of making effort

   cleaning the windows · effort for the sake of effort · not trying to become a Buddha
5. Zazen According to Sawaki ●●● Summer 2004 — Yoko Luetchford

   what could they get from it. He replied “you can get nothing”

   zazen is good for nothing · practice that does not help others
6. Shoaku Makusa 4: Doing Right Without a Doer ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

   We imagine something which is not and then try to get there

   giving up trying to be better · imagining something which is not
7. Zazen Without an Intentional Aim ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

   because zazen doesn't have any intentional aim, it's much more powerful

   giving up eagerness · zazen without intention
8. Just to Be Alive Is Enough ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

   But there is a state where we can feel that just being alive is enough

   just to be alive is enough · practising like someone who is dying
9. Dojo and Home, Sacred and Ordinary ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

   that very, very radical statement by Kodo Sawaki, Zazen is useless

   stopping looking · zazen is good for nothing
10. Enlightenment as a Normal State ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    the aim of our effort is just effort. To say that our effort is just effort sounds strange

    cleaning the windows · effort for the sake of effort
11. Kodo Sawaki and Concrete Teaching ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

    What's the use of doing zazen? There's no use in doing zazen.

    chickens eating to be eaten · no ladder in Buddhism · sitting as a waste of time · zazen is good for nothing
12. Zen Without Spirituality ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    In English, intention, in tension. So what is zazen? Zazen is to have no intention

    zazen is good for nothing · zazen without intention
13. Fukan-zazengi ●●● Shobogenzo

    Do not aim to become a buddha.

    not trying to become a Buddha
14. Introductions 3: A Middle Without Intention ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    When we sit in zazen, we have no intention to get anything, and we have no intention to stop getting anything

    zazen without intention
15. Ikka-no-myoju 5: The Four Views ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

    we should learn how to look where we're stepping as we're moving towards our ideals

    watching where we put our feet
16. Shoaku Makusa 2: Not Doing Wrong as a State ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

    not to get better, but to give up getting better. And to give up getting better is much better!

    giving up trying to be better
17. A Buddhist Teacher Without a Plan ●●● June 2007 — Padmafarma

    The word I use is unfolding. In our normal life, we have to plan for the future

    life unfolding without a plan
18. Kuge 5: Compassion and Freedom in Action ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    There’s always a point in doing something for itself

    activity for its own sake
19. MMK 3: Cutting Through Categories ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

    our whole civilisation is based on planning, in other words, ordering our reality in our mind in an abstract way

    civilisation based on planning · enlightenment as a dangled carrot
20. Morality as Balanced Action ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

    If we give up trying to make ourselves better, magically, we become a little better

    giving up trying to be better · watching where we put our feet
21. Sadness Is a Change in Balance ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

    because we give up everything, including trying to improve ourselves, this improves us

    giving up trying to be better
22. Recognising the Marrow in Ourselves ●●● May 2012 — Nová Dedinka

    not trying to change changes us. I don't know why. Maybe human beings are very stubborn.

    giving up trying to be better
23. Effort Without Knowing the Result ●●● May 2014 — Banský Studenec

    it's not necessary to know the result of our efforts. But just to make an effort

    effort without worrying about results
24. Buddhist State as Semi-Permeable Membrane ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    So what's the correct motivation, or what do we get from that, or what's the benefit?

    zazen is good for nothing · right motivation for zazen
25. Three Philosophies and One Reality ●●●

    So in addition to matter, the Universe also contains human value, or cultural value.

    building a factory · human value
26. How To Pursue the Truth ●●● Shobogenzo · Bendōwa

    claim our share of the realization of what is here already because we have no intention to get anything

    zazen without intention
27. Genjo-koan 5: Freedom Within Limits ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

    our goal is an idea, and the place at which we arrive is real

    goal as only an idea
28. The Life of Master Dogen ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    they had a very strong aim while they were practising: they wanted to become enlightened

    enlightenment as the aim of zazen
29. An Introduction to Shobogenzo ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    This method, in which there is no intention of reaching an aim, is subtle

    zazen without intention
30. Dropping Off Heart, Mind and Body ●●● June 2007 — Padmafarma

    At that moment, Master Dogen understood, I see. We're not trying to get anything. We're trying to let everything drop away

    zazen without intention
31. Uji 4: Coming into the Present ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

    we all practice some kind of activity, not because we're apt to plant carrots, but just for its own sake

    activity for its own sake
32. Uji 5: Life Moment by Moment ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

    our life being a planned course, which we then sail along, our life is determined at each moment by our action in this moment

    life unfolding without a plan
33. No Hierarchy of Enlightenment ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    Be very careful where you put your foot now, but don't worry where you're going

    watching where we put our feet
34. Dogen’s Teaching as a Way of Living ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    if we make a plan and we hold on to it, we lose our freedom

    not holding on to a plan
35. Buddhism Through European Glasses ●●● August 2014 — Banský Studenec

    make a little plan, and then do something, and change the plan, and do something

    little plan, then action
36. Nishijima’s Four Main Points ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    So in Buddhism, we can make an effort without worrying about the result

    effort without worrying about results
37. Civilisation as a Shared Trance ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

    If you practise zazen, you can find a motivation or a drive which is something different from feeling good.

    feeling good as motivation
38. The Relation Between the Autonomic Nervous System and Buddhism ●●●

    Zazen is not a means to attain “enlightenment,” but is just an act to experience the balance of the ANS.

    enlightenment as the aim of zazen
39. Maha Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra ●●●

    by non-attainment practicing the prajna paramita of the bodhisattvas disperses mental illusion

    nothing to get
40. The Sutra of the Heart of the Great Practice of Zazen ●●●

    No building up of understanding, no attainment, nothing to get

    nothing to get
41. Gaku do yo jin shu - Practical Advice on Pursuing the Buddhist Truth ●●●

    we should sit away the roots of intention

    zazen without intention
42. Preface ●●● Shobogenzo

    supports Nishijima Roshi's interpretation that 無為 (MUI) describes zazen as natural, or without intention; something as it is

    zazen without intention
43. Introductions 4: Ordinary Balance ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    I need to throw away my plan and present myself, if I only present my plan

    throwing away the interview plan
44. Zazen from Four Viewpoints ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    If we think that zazen will give us some peaceful, beautiful state, like a golden Buddha, we're dreaming.

    peaceful golden Buddha
45. Bussho 4: The Cut Earthworm ●●● Summer 2005 — Bussho

    Actually it was hell. But it was also great.

    Himalayan expedition
46. Ikka-no-myoju 1: A Pearl in Ordinary Things ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

    He wasn’t trying to catch the fish with the golden scales, which was a legendary fish that lived in the river

    fish with the golden scales
47. One Moon, Two Moons ●●●

    Dogen teaches that the practice of Zazen –sitting without intention – is the method that the Buddha taught

    zazen without intention
48. What did the Buddha discover? ●●●

    In this aimless state he sat.

    zazen without intention
49. Zazen: how to do it ●●●

    Do not try to become a Buddha. After all, how could that concern sitting or standing?

    not trying to become a Buddha

Keywords