wobbling as real balance
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also zazen as wobbling · dynamic balance · balance point in the middle · zazen jako kolísání · dynamická rovnováha · bod rovnováhy uprostred · kolísání jako skutečná rovnováha CZ
Summary
In our mind we think balance is something perfect, but real balance is wobbling: a tightrope walker keeps his balance by wobbling, and in order to balance anything we must wobble, because we can’t find a dynamic balance without some very slight movement. In zazen we don’t have a fixed state, we wobble about the point in the middle, which is a balance point, and Mike says that wobbling around is buddha. Mike says that the state Dogen speaks of is a real balanced state, not a perfect one, that the narrow balance point of a skate becomes wider with practice, and that a knife-edge we keep practising on becomes a plateau, though it is still a knife-edge. Trying to stop wobbling only keeps it going: to stop stopping ourselves is a very effective way to stop ourselves.
Includes ↓ drifting in and out of wholeness ↓ knife-edge and plateau ↓ learning to skate ↓ real balanced state ↓ stop stopping ourselves ↓ tightrope walker ↓ walking slowly on the rope
Main theme
In order to balance anything you must wobble, you can’t find a dynamic balance without some very slight movement
1Bussho 2: Balance in Action Summer 2004 — Bussho
although in our mind we think balance is something perfect, actually real balance is not like that. Real balance is wobbling
2Buddhism Beyond Robes and Incense June 2006 — Padmafarma
We are wobbling about the point in the middle, which is a balance point
3Dropping Off Heart, Mind and Body June 2007 — Padmafarma
real balance is different from our perfect balance, which is in our minds. Real balance is wobbling around.
4Zazen Is Not Meditation July 2021 — Skalní fara
Developed
we don’t have a state in zazen, we wobble around. And that wobbling around is buddha.
5Uji 3: The Changing State of Zazen Winter 2004 — Uji
if I balance, I have to wobble. The tightrope walker is wobbling like this
6The Life of Master Dogen June 2005 — Lotus Centre
Mention
when we sit in Zazen, we sit, we wobble in the interface between ourselves and the world
7Genjo-koan 4: Realisation as Wholeness Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan
We are always wobbling a little bit and I like to explain that by saying that balance is wobbling
8Buddhism Free from ‘Buddhism’ September 2009 — Earth Spirit
Also in the narrower keywords
drifting in and out of wholeness +1 text
This drifting in and out of wholeness is our experience of natural balance.
How To Pursue the Truth Shobogenzo · Bendōwa
real balanced state +1 text
what Master Dogen is saying is about when we're in the balanced state, not some perfect balanced state but a real balanced state
Right and Wrong in Action June 2006 — Padmafarma
stop stopping ourselves +1 text
to stop stopping ourselves is a very effective way to stop ourselves
Genjo-koan 1: Four Viewpoints Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan via tightrope walker
tightrope walker +1 text
in order to keep our balance on a tightrope, we need to wobble
Uji 4: Coming into the Present Summer 2007 — Uji
walking slowly on the rope +1 text
But we can learn, we can practice how to walk slowly on the rope
Introductions 4: Ordinary Balance Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters