zazen

Excerpts

What our teachers say on it: excerpts from the talks and texts, lightly edited and shortened; an ellipsis (…) marks a sentence or more left out. The titles above the excerpts are mine, the teacher's words are in the excerpt; a question under a title really was asked at the talk. How they were made →

1. By practising zazen we enter into reality

   When we consider a conflict like that through intellectual thinking, the two parts are separate and can never be synthesized. Therefore, we should transcend our intellectual thinking. We should enter into reality. Therefore, we practice zazen. By practicing zazen, we enter into reality. And in reality, there cannot be any different factors in our day-to-day life. There is only one reality. It has two faces, but the faces are not all of reality. We are reality itself. We are living in reality itself.

   Nishijima · Why We Practice Zazen August 1987 — Gudo Wafu Nishijima

2. Zazen is not meditation

   It’s also necessary to say that zazen is not meditation. It’s not any form of meditation. In meditation — there are many different kinds of meditation — we can enter a kind of internal space, which we may call spiritual, and in which we may experience images, feelings and so on. Zazen is not that. Zazen is a physical training which also has a mental side. Or it’s a mental training which also has a physical side. You can look at it from two sides.

   Mike · Zazen Is Not Meditation July 2021 — Skalní faraAlso in: Action and Result, Living in the Present, Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen

3. Upright, without holding ourselves

   Although Master Dogen says that Zazen is sitting upright, it’s a subtle sitting upright where, although we’re sitting upright, the uprightness is not due to holding ourselves in a posture but due to the balance of our bodyweight down through the spine, down through the neck and down through the spine to the pelvis. … Zazen is like sitting with our vertebrae piled up on top of each other like a pile of pebbles, one on top of the other. … Zazen is balance. And so balance without holding ourselves. … The posture in Zazen is very subtle. So if we think, ‘Oh, I’ll straighten up,’ that straight posture is not the posture in Zazen. Neither is the slumped posture. It’s between the two. And to achieve that posture between the two is why we sit.

   Mike · Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing Wrong Winter 2006 — Shoaku MakusaAlso in: Zazen: how to do it, Fukan-zazengi

4. Thoughts come; we don’t intentionally keep thinking

   We often have thoughts in zazen, and we can’t stop them unless we notice them. But usually we’ve already thought, and then we notice. We don’t notice until after we’re thinking, so then we can’t stop it. Retrospectively, we can’t stop it. So it’s inevitable to think during zazen. But we don’t intentionally think, and we don’t intentionally keep thinking. So sometimes the thoughts which come up are strange. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we remember them afterwards; sometimes we forget completely. If we remember them afterwards, we can do whatever we like with those thoughts, quite freely. Only during zazen do we stop our train of thinking when we notice. And after zazen, we can do what we like.

   Mike · Zazen Without an Intentional Aim February 2009 — CholínAlso in: Introductions 3: A Middle Without Intention, MMK 4: Constructs and the Present Moment

5. Real balance is wobbling

   Zazen is balancing our body and mind. One way to describe balancing our body and mind is to talk about the autonomic nervous system. In the body, there are two halves to the autonomic nervous system. They act against each other. One half of the nervous system makes us aggressive or active. The other half of the nervous system makes us passive or satisfied. When we sit in zazen, we find the balance between the two aspects. Not so active or aggressive. Not so passive. In zazen, we can feel ourselves moving between the two, wobbling. Sometimes in zazen we feel sleepy. Sometimes in zazen we feel a bit excited. Or very wide awake. So we’re wobbling between the two sides of our nervous system. … So we can say, in zazen we’re wobbling. Sometimes sleepy, sometimes thinking, sometimes listening. Sometimes in the middle. And to be in the middle is balance. And although in our mind we think balance is something perfect, actually real balance is not like that. Real balance is wobbling. But in our mind, we have some perfect balance.

   Mike · Buddhism Beyond Robes and Incense June 2006 — PadmafarmaAlso in: Introductions 4: Ordinary Balance, Bussho 2: Balance in Action, Genjo-koan 1: Four Viewpoints, Dropping Off Heart, Mind and Body, The Relation Between the Autonomic Nervous System and Buddhism

6. Zazen is to have no intention

   If we take the right posture, we can let ourselves relax. We can allow the relaxation to happen. This is the centre of zazen. We don’t try to get rid of our stress. We don’t try to get rid of our thinking. Because if we try something, we become tenser. In English, intention, in tension. So what is zazen? Zazen is to have no intention. We just sit stupidly, with these bones in the right position, not bending to one side, or bending to the other side. So we sit and we wait. And slowly, our body adjusts itself: these muscles and these muscles, and the muscles at the front. Then our back becomes longer, and then our autonomic nervous system is more balanced. So, from that point of view, zazen is a very simple practice. We sit and we wait to return to our natural state. In Japanese, shikantaza means just sitting. We don’t try to have intention. We just wait to return to our natural state.

   Mike · Zen Without Spirituality September 2015 — Banský StudenecAlso in: An Introduction to Shobogenzo

7. Whatever our state, that state is buddha

   When we practise zazen, we sit in our state, whatever it is. And that state is buddha. If we expect the state to be pure, calm and peaceful, we may be disappointed, but the state of being disappointed in zazen is that state of buddha. To accept ourselves as we are in zazen is the state of buddha. We shouldn’t search for some perfect state, because the perfect state only exists in our mind.

   Mike · Uji 3: The Changing State of Zazen Winter 2004 — UjiAlso in: How To Pursue the Truth, Genjo-koan 3: Action Only Here and Now, No Hierarchy of Enlightenment

8. Thinking the state beyond thinking

   Sitting immovably in the mountain-still state, “Think about this concrete state beyond thinking.” “How can the state beyond thinking be thought about?” “It is different from thinking.” This is just the pivot of zazen. This sitting in zazen is not learning Zen concentration. It is simply the peaceful and joyful gate of Dharma. It is the practice-and-experience which perfectly realizes the state of bodhi.

   Dogen · Fukan-zazengi ShobogenzoAlso in: Zazen: how to do it

9. Practice and experience are completely the same

   The thought that practice and experience are not one thing is just the idea of non-Buddhists. In the Buddha-Dharma practice and experience are completely the same. Practice now is also practice in the state of experience; therefore, a beginner’s pursuit of the truth is just the whole body of the original state of experience. This is why the Buddhist patriarchs teach, in the practical cautions they have handed down to us, not to expect any experience outside of practice. And the reason may be that practice itself is the directly accessible original state of experience. Because practice is just experience, the experience is endless; and because experience is practice, the practice has no beginning.

   Dogen · Bendōwa ShobogenzoAlso in: Gaku do yo jin shu - Practical Advice on Pursuing the Buddhist Truth, Fukan-zazengi

10. Studying Buddhism based on zazen

    A lot of the descriptions of buddhas in the Shobogenzo sound as if there must be very wonderful beings around, but if we study Buddhism based on that kind of interpretation we can never understand it. So it’s necessary to study Buddhism based on Zazen. In Zazen is contained the subject that Buddhism is talking about. All these words are talking about the state in Zazen, but it’s difficult for us to understand how that can be. We interpret our state in Zazen based on lots of habits, points of view, feelings about ourselves and others, and so on.

    Mike · Bussho 2: This World, Not Heaven Summer 2005 — BusshoAlso in: Bussho 2: Without a Concept of Buddha-Nature, Bussho 4: Hearing and Understanding, Understanding the Shobogenzo, Buddha-nature

11. No barrier between ourselves and the world

    The fourth aspect of zazen is oneness with the universe. Oneness with the universe sounds very strange, so many people might think it means some spiritual oneness. But Master Dogen means something more real. When we’re acting, when we’re practicing zazen and we’re in a balanced state, we can’t find any barrier between ourselves and the world. So we don’t separate ourselves from the cushion, from the floor, from the wall. We don’t separate ourselves from anything. So we’re one with everything. This is oneness with the universe. And we get the same state in simple actions, for instance in sporting activities and in daily life.

    Mike · Zazen from Four Viewpoints June 2005 — Lotus CentreAlso in: How To Pursue the Truth, Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen

12. Ten minutes every day

    Many Buddhist groups which have a kind of spiritual structure put enlightenment at the top. And so, to attain enlightenment by constant effort is a common belief in those groups. And so naturally, people think if they make a bigger effort, they get enlightenment quicker. And if they make a superhuman effort, they might get it in one week or two weeks. And this leads to, for instance, some groups having very intensive meditation, many hours a day for several weeks. This attitude, to me, is a waste of time. The most important thing in our practice is to practise every day. Ten minutes every day is better than sixteen hours for two weeks.

    Mike · Enlightenment as a Normal State July 2009 — DibbavanaAlso in: Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen, Not Making Practice Special, Sacred and Ordinary Together, The Life of Master Dogen, A Buddhist Teacher Without a Plan

13. Using zazen as a prison

    I think I realised that if we have some idea about zazen, for instance, zazen is balance, zazen is no emotion. If I practice zazen, everything will be solved. If we believe those kind of things, then when we practice zazen we tend to push down. For instance, emotion, sexual feeling. Anything which doesn’t seem to be balanced. Push, push. Then we use zazen as a kind of prison. And I think many people who practice zazen do this. And I did it myself. At one time, my teacher said, Practice zazen and everything is okay. You don’t need anything, only zazen. So I’m thinking, I don’t need to solve my problems. I don’t need to do anything in my life, just zazen. So, you know this feeling? Pushing, pushing. But I realised that that’s not zazen, really. And you read in the books about zazen is wonderful, peaceful. And if we do that, it’s not good. So now I cry in zazen. Or I feel angry in zazen. Or I feel sexy in zazen. Or I feel sleepy in zazen. That’s me. It’s all this. So it comes and goes, like this.

    Mike · Recognising the Marrow in Ourselves May 2012 — Nová DedinkaAlso in: When the Mud Buffalo Dissolve, Making Dogen's Words Our Own, Escape and Refuge in Zazen, Sadness Is a Change in Balance

14. Coolness in the centre of fire

    The coolness in the centre of fire is in the moment, so don’t pass by that moment. And, for instance in Zazen, if we’ve got pain in our legs, it hurts; and if we keep thinking about the pain or listening for signs of somebody rustling to ring the bell or something, if we think about it then we miss the fact that right at that moment we can sit without pain. And we find that again sometimes. So, you know, we have periods where we’re desperate for the bell to ring, and then we stop and we’re in the moment, we don’t drift by that moment in which there is no pain.

    Mike · Kuge 2: Coolness in the Centre of Fire Winter 2007 — Kuge

• To keep the back naturally straight and balanced vertically is the most important point in practicing zazen.

  Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen

The most important texts

1. Zazen Is Not Meditation ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

   real balance is different from our perfect balance, which is in our minds. Real balance is wobbling around.

   dropping off body as releasing stress · losing rather than getting · meaning of Zen master · normal state · wobbling as real balance · learning to skate · zazen as the authentic gate · zazen as the state of buddha · receiving affirmation · zazen is not meditation · sitting in the balanced state · spine as a pile of stones · sitting without hands in the lap
2. Zen Without Spirituality ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

   Buddhism is just balance of the autonomic nervous system

   balance as the state of Buddha · balance of the autonomic nervous system · layers over underlying normality · return to the natural state · state without thinking and feeling · zazen as the simplest sport · zazen is good for nothing · zazen like going to the toilet · zazen posture · natural curve of the spine · no fixed posture in zazen · robots and balance · zazen without intention
3. Fukan-zazengi ●●● Shobogenzo

   It is the practice-and-experience which perfectly realizes the state of bodhi.

   backward step of turning light · dropping off body and mind · getting the body out · oneness of practice and experience · single-minded effort · son wandering through foreign lands · think not-thinking · zazen as the authentic gate · nine years facing the wall · standard method of zazen · not trying to become a Buddha
4. Zazen: how to do it ●●●

   the text below is a translation of the article How to Do Zazen

   Fukan zazengi · kinhin · walking only forward · think not-thinking · thinking during zazen · zazen posture · ears level with the shoulders · full-lotus and half-lotus posture · standard method of zazen · still as a mountain · not trying to become a Buddha
5. Zazen from Four Viewpoints ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

   The second aspect of zazen is putting the body right, making the body right.

   balance of the autonomic nervous system · comparing zazen · my legs are on fire · glass of water with ash · neither thinking nor not thinking · oneness with the universe · finding ourselves in zazen · zazen from four viewpoints · zazen posture · peaceful golden Buddha
6. Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen ●●●

   It is this physical state of balance in the autonomic nervous system that give rise to what we call a balanced body-and-mind.

   balance of the autonomic nervous system · daily zazen practice · kinhin · neither thinking nor not thinking · oneness with the universe · worries evaporating into the universe · zazen as the authentic gate · everybody practising zazen is Buddha · zazen is not meditation · zazen posture · spine as a pile of stones
7. How To Pursue the Truth ●●● Shobogenzo · Bendōwa

   Why do you say that only Zazen is the authentic gate?

   balance of body and mind · daily zazen practice · will to practice · Minister Hyo's poem · oneness with the universe · drifting in and out of wholeness · zazen as the authentic gate · zazen as the state of buddha · zazen like ringing a bell · zazen without intention
8. Dropping Off Heart, Mind and Body ●●● June 2007 — Padmafarma

   So the phrase shinjin datsuraku means to drop off heart, mind and body

   relieving stress by not doing · Japanese schoolchildren's fear of zazen · dropping off body and mind · losing rather than getting · shikantaza · wobbling as real balance · learning to skate · everybody practising zazen is Buddha · zazen without intention
9. Bendōwa ●●● Shobogenzo

   Because it is the authentic gate to the Buddha-Dharma

   daily zazen practice · dropping off body and mind · jijuyo zanmai · Minister Hyo's poem · oneness of practice and experience · oneness with the universe · zazen as the authentic gate · zazen like ringing a bell
10. 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

    dropping off muscular habits · kinhin as zazen · losing rather than getting · noticing as a solution · zazen posture · not forcing the full lotus · spine as a pile of stones · zazen without intention
11. Zazen Without an Intentional Aim ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

    So the best chance of being balanced is to stop wanting to be balanced

    balance of body and mind · śūnyatā as the balanced state · daily zazen practice · glass of water with ash · neither thinking nor not thinking · thinking during zazen · zazen as the simplest sport · zazen without intention
12. Zazen According to Sawaki ●●● Summer 2004 — Yoko Luetchford

    Master Dogen said that the state of sitting in Zazen is satori itself

    created in Gautama Buddha’s image · dropping off body and mind · fox zazen (yakozen) · normal state · old woman’s prostrations · oneness with the universe · zazen as the state of buddha · zazen is good for nothing · practice that does not help others

Other texts

13. The Life of Master Dogen ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    Zazen is not getting anything. It's getting rid of everything.

    balance of body and mind · daily zazen practice · dropping off body and mind · from mountaineering to zazen · losing rather than getting · wobbling as real balance · zazen like ringing a bell · zazen posture · enlightenment as the aim of zazen
14. The Relation Between the Autonomic Nervous System and Buddhism ●●●

    Gautama Buddha has presented us with a very effective and calm method to make the ANS balanced, and that is Zazen.

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · sympathetic idealism, parasympathetic materialism · balance felt as plus/minus zero · cerebellum and the body's equilibrium · dropping off body and mind · jijuyo zanmai · enlightenment as the aim of zazen
15. Enlightenment as a Normal State ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    we can describe the state in zazen as being the state where our nervous system can be balanced

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · daily zazen practice · normal state · state in zazen · lengthening the spine
16. Buddhism Beyond Robes and Incense ●●● June 2006 — Padmafarma

    although in our mind we think balance is something perfect, actually real balance is not like that. Real balance is wobbling

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · dhyāna · dropping off body as releasing stress · oneness with the universe · state between thinking and feeling · thinking during zazen · wobbling as real balance
17. Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing Wrong ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

    Zazen is balance. And so balance without holding ourselves.

    dropping off body as releasing stress · zazen practicing me · studying Buddhism based on zazen · posture between straight and slumped · sitting in the balanced state · spine as a pile of stones · sitting without hands in the lap · wobbling a head to find rigidity
18. Escape and Refuge in Zazen ●●● May 2014 — Banský Studenec

    I used zazen as an escape rather than a refuge

    difficulties in zazen · sitting in zazen angrily · straining to sit straight · dentist's drill · zazen and health · zazen solving all problems · zazen as escape
19. Buddhist State as Semi-Permeable Membrane ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    Dogen says the state in zazen is a receiving, giving state. He says, receive, give. Like one word.

    semi-permeable membrane · daily zazen practice · jijuyo zanmai · samadhi as making whole · zazen is good for nothing · right motivation for zazen
20. Dojo and Home, Sacred and Ordinary ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    Not getting knowledge, not getting wisdom, not getting balance. Uncovering. Uncovering your own balance.

    balance of body and mind · semi-permeable membrane · natural carefulness through zazen · losing rather than getting · zazen is good for nothing
21. Uji 3: The Changing State of Zazen ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

    When we practise zazen, we sit in our state, whatever it is. And that state is buddha.

    effort to reach no effort · wobbling as real balance · knife-edge and plateau · zazen as the state of buddha
22. Right and Wrong in Action ●●● June 2006 — Padmafarma

    zazen is not a practice to get something. It's a practice to lose something.

    acting in a balanced way · short walk and long hike · losing rather than getting · real balanced state
23. Gaku do yo jin shu - Practical Advice on Pursuing the Buddhist Truth ●●●

    Someone who yearns for and searches for Gautama Buddha’s way can never find the true way unless they practice Zazen.

    balance of body and mind · oneness of practice and experience · zazen as the authentic gate · zazen without intention
24. The Eight Truths of a Great Person ●●● June 2006 — Padmafarma

    We don't need to try to be like that. We just need to stop being something else.

    effects of zazen · glass of water with ash · normal state · zazen like ringing a bell
25. Three Teachings from Japan ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    And Dogen says, take them all off during zazen. And then you can put them back on again if you want.

    Japanese dislike of zazen · dropping off body and mind · losing rather than getting · return to the natural state
26. Introductions 1: Rules and Reality ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    Master Dogen’s truth is not something that you know, it’s something in the practice of zazen

    Bendowa · neither thinking nor not thinking · zazen as the state of buddha
27. An Introduction to Shobogenzo ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    So, a conversation about pursuing the truth. Master Dogen wrote it soon after he returned from China

    Bendowa · zazen as escape · Master Hone facing the wall · zazen without intention
28. Bussho 2: Without a Concept of Buddha-Nature ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    It’s not something you get, it’s something which appears when you get rid of other things.

    balance of body and mind · losing rather than getting · studying Buddhism based on zazen · zazen like ringing a bell
29. Sadness Is a Change in Balance ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

    it's no use thinking zazen is a kind of cure for everything

    zazen all day · balanced point of view · zazen solving all problems · practising with stupid thoughts
30. When the Mud Buffalo Dissolve ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

    And we don't need to judge it: Oh, I should be still. So, in training ourselves, we can sit when we can sit.

    difficulties in zazen · go and live your life · training a small dog to sit · dissolving inner conflict in zazen
31. Action as the Center of Buddhism ●●●

    the state that Buddhism calls action can be identified with the state when our ANS is balanced

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · normal state · state between thinking and feeling
32. Genjo-koan 1: Four Viewpoints ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

    there is a state in Zazen where we're sitting in the interface between the abstract and the concrete, between mind and body

    balance of body and mind · stop stopping ourselves · tightrope walker
33. The Heart Sutra: Labels and Reality ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    Paramita means a kind of practice. So, to me, it can only mean zazen

    four phases of zazen · prajñā paramita as zazen · sitting in the balanced state
34. The Sutra of the Heart of the Great Practice of Zazen ●●●

    The Buddha was about to finish the practice of Zazen, the practice that is wisdom itself

    mantra that heals all suffering · teaching zazen · zazen as the state of buddha
35. Introductions 5: Clear Explanation for Zazen ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    to have a clear explanation helps us to see what zazen is

    zazen solving all problems · studying Buddhism based on zazen
36. Uji 2: An Alternative to Linear Time ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

    if we sit in the posture of zazen, the posture itself helps us to do nothing

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · sharing space with the whole universe · noticing as a solution · zazen posture
37. Bussho 1: Names and Reality ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    Master Dogen talks about Zazen as “the body and mind dropping off”.

    being without anything · dropping off body and mind · losing rather than getting
38. Buddhism Free from ‘Buddhism’ ●●● September 2009 — Earth Spirit

    But if we balance ourselves, if we live a balanced life, then what we do is OK, it’s the best we can do

    acting in a balanced way · balance of body and mind · dropping off body as releasing stress · wobbling as real balance · changing sides in half lotus
39. Making Dogen's Words Our Own ●●● August 2012 — Dibbavana

    if you want to know the value of zazen, and you wonder if you stop, if it makes a difference

    daily zazen practice · a month without zazen · enjoying zazen as the last one · zazen with hair on fire
40. Introduction to Master Dogen’s Thought ●●● May 1987 — Gudo Wafu Nishijima

    reality can never be grasped by thinking. Therefore, to realize reality, it is necessary for us to practice zazen

    autonomic nervous system · reality beyond thinking
41. Introductions 2: Reality in Ordinary Moments ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    People often ask how can they take zazen into their lives, it’s absolutely impossible to do it, and it’s absolutely impossible not to

    daily zazen practice · rules for the zazen hall
42. Bussho 2: Balance in Action ●●● Summer 2004 — Bussho

    In order to balance anything you must wobble, you can’t find a dynamic balance without some very slight movement

    wobbling as real balance · zazen as action
43. The Buddha’s Discovery ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

    He realized intuitively that this balanced posture was deeply connected with his simple realization about his life.

    balanced posture of dhyāna · stars in the evening sky · faces of angels or devils
44. Bussho 2: This World, Not Heaven ●●● Summer 2005 — Bussho

    it’s necessary to study Buddhism based on Zazen. In Zazen is contained the subject that Buddhism is talking about

    balance and wisdom as one · studying Buddhism based on zazen
45. Shoaku Makusa 4: Doing Right Without a Doer ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

    we imagine there’s a balanced state and we should try and get into it, forgetting that we’ve just been sitting in it

    balance of body and mind · neither thinking nor not thinking · looking for thinking in zazen
46. Western Buddhism and Hierarchy ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

    in order to see what is real in life, we need to lose all the things with which we cover up reality

    losing rather than getting · return to the natural state
47. No Hierarchy of Enlightenment ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    everybody who practises zazen is a Buddha, and new or old is not important

    Buddha leaving the forest · everybody practising zazen is Buddha
48. Intuition Covered by Thinking ●●● August 2012 — Dibbavana

    zazen is a method to uncover the simple state. Or, in other words, prajñā.

    uncovering intuition through zazen · think not-thinking
49. Action and Result, Living in the Present ●●● May 2014 — Banská Štiavnica

    It's not an intellectual study. It's a simple physical practice.

    dropping off body as releasing stress · zazen is not meditation · spine as a pile of stones
50. Civilisation as a Shared Trance ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

    I don't mean sitting with something happening inside, or feeling some powerful force, but just sitting

    Buddha leaving the forest · shikantaza · feeling good as motivation
51. Introduction to the Shobogenzo ●●●

    Frankly speaking, only someone who practises zazen can understand the book translated from Czech

    shikantaza · studying Buddhism based on zazen
52. What did the Buddha discover? ●●●

    sitting in the posture of dhyana was in some way connected to his balanced state

    balanced posture of dhyāna · stars in the evening sky · zazen without intention
53. Maka-hannya-haramitsu ●●● Shobogenzo

    a kind of intuitive ability that occurs in our body and mind, when our body and mind are in the state of balance and harmony

    balance of body and mind · being without anything · mantra that heals all suffering
54. Genjo-koan 3: Action Only Here and Now ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

    there's no enlightenment outside of Zazen, there's no realisation outside of Zazen, or outside of action

    just here in kinhin · zazen as the state of buddha
55. Introductions 4: Ordinary Balance ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    zazen is just practicing very simple balance

    balance of body and mind · walking slowly on the rope
56. Uji 5: Words and Reality ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

    Self-regulation is another word for zazen I think.

    balance of body and mind · dropping off body and mind
57. Bussho 1: Having Buddha-Nature ●●● Summer 2005 — Bussho

    We can drop off body and mind in Zazen Master Dogen says. It’s a characteristic of the Universe

    dropping off body and mind · losing rather than getting
58. Kuge 1: Ripening Fruit ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    practicing Zazen itself produces a ripening. And, “we can leave that ripening as it is” suggests to accept the situation as it is

    effects of zazen · state of brightness and colour
59. Kuge 4: Nothing to Get Rid Of ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    Noticing our state sometimes releases it

    noticing as a solution · clarity from posture
60. MMK 2: Non-Separation ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

    to realise clearly the nature of reality has a great power. Somehow it’s a catalyst

    taking charge of your own sitting · noticing as a solution
61. MMK 3: Cutting Through Categories ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

    By ‘different from thinking’ he is suggesting that what he is doing does contain some intelligent behaviour but it’s not thinking

    neither thinking nor not thinking · sitting like a zombie · sitting in the balanced state
62. Recognising the Marrow in Ourselves ●●● May 2012 — Nová Dedinka

    Push, push. Then we use zazen as a kind of prison. And I think many people who practice zazen do this.

    Buddha leaving the forest · difficulties in zazen
63. Dogen’s Teaching as a Way of Living ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    zazen, or what people call meditation, is a way to balance ourselves

    balance of body and mind · losing rather than getting
64. Buddhism Through European Glasses ●●● August 2014 — Banský Studenec

    to sit with no tension, no unequal tension in the muscles round our spine, has an effect on our nervous system

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · sitting in the balanced state
65. Nishijima’s Four Main Points ●●● September 2015 — Banský Studenec

    Nishijima Roshi would become very angry. And zazen is the only method

    acting in a balanced way · zazen as the authentic gate
66. Right and Wrong in Buddhism ●●●

    To practice Zazen is to learn to act right. Because in Zazen we learn to live in the present moment.

    acting in a balanced way · samadhi as making whole
67. Bussho ●●● Shobogenzo

    in the state of clearly realizing the Buddha-nature there is practice, which is the equal practice of balance and wisdom

    dropping off body and mind · equal practice of balance and wisdom
68. Why We Practice Zazen ●●● August 1987 — Gudo Wafu Nishijima

    we should transcend our intellectual thinking. We should enter into reality. Therefore, we practice zazen. By practicing zazen, we enter into reality.

    reality beyond thinking
69. Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika ●●● January 1996 — Gudo Wafu Nishijima

    this philosophical system suggests the necessity of practicing zazen

    zazen as the authentic gate
70. Genjo-koan 5: Freedom Within Limits ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

    in giving up the ideas, we find ourself just sitting

    balance of body and mind · shikantaza
71. Uji 1: Time Is the Present ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

    I like to say sitting in balance, because to me it’s a balanced posture, and it’s the same balance at the centre of sport.

    kinhin like a duck · sitting in the balanced state
72. Bussho 4: Hearing and Understanding ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    we sit and study reality and then try to describe it. So we’re kind of scientists

    studying Buddhism based on zazen
73. Bussho 5: Our Fundamental Nature ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    when we practice Zazen we balance those two halves of our autonomic nervous system

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · losing rather than getting
74. Koan Stories and Being Here and Now ●●● June 2007 — Padmafarma

    the way they think about the koan story while they're sitting in zazen in order to get free from some kind of thinking

    zazen is not meditation
75. A Buddhist Teacher Without a Plan ●●● June 2007 — Padmafarma

    practise zazen. Every day if you can, or whenever you can. And then you can follow the stream of your life

    daily zazen practice
76. Uji 4: Coming into the Present ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

    If you like, we're defocusing. So we're embracing everything.

    thinking during zazen · tightrope walker
77. Uji 5: Life Moment by Moment ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

    make our body and mind balance, then the balanced state pulls us into right action

    acting in a balanced way
78. Kuge 2: Coolness in the Centre of Fire ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    this state in which there’s coolness in the centre of heat, or no pain in the middle of pain

    coolness in the centre of heat
79. Kuge 3: The Whole World in Each Flower ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    What’s in front of us teaches us, if we don’t pass over it.

    grumpy human being on the zafu · teacher in front of us
80. Kuge 5: Compassion and Freedom in Action ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    freedom in action, to him, is a result of Zazen

    effects of zazen
81. MMK 4: Constructs and the Present Moment ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

    practising Zazen stops the habit of drifting off into thoughts, because we keep drifting off and bringing ourselves back

    same experiment in the dojo · bringing ourselves back in zazen
82. MMK 5: Relinquishing All Views ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

    That last verse suggests to me that Nagarjuna must have practised Zazen, that he was a teacher of Zazen

    śūnyatā as the balanced state · Nagarjuna as a teacher of zazen
83. Morality as Balanced Action ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

    but on being balanced when we act. That's a very strange idea

    acting in a balanced way
84. The Buddhist View of Living Itself ●●● February 2009 — Cholín

    zazen can give us the stability of the deep ocean, which is not the same as a peaceful mind

    stability of the deep ocean
85. Effort for Its Own Sake ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    So for Dogen, zazen is action. Although we're not moving around, we're giving up our aim

    zazen as action
86. Precepts as Guidelines ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    if we practise balance and act in a balanced way, then our actions are not doing wrong

    acting in a balanced way
87. Sacred and Ordinary Together ●●● July 2009 — Brno

    just to practise zazen in our daily life regularly, some minutes each day

    daily zazen practice
88. Opposites and Being Upright ●●● July 2009 — Brno

    So for Dogen, not to make an effort to become Buddha is to be upright

    zazen for alcoholics · not trying to become a Buddha
89. Kodo Sawaki and Concrete Teaching ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

    To study Buddhism is to study losing. Shakyamuni Buddha is a good example.

    losing rather than getting · zazen is good for nothing · sitting as a waste of time
90. Two Things, and the Rest Is Fashion ●●● August 2012 — Dibbavana

    we practise zazen, which is waking up and then sleeping. And when we wake up, we notice

    zazen as waking up
91. Old Writings and Our Own Life ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    how do we find ourselves without books? Well, Dogen says that practising zazen, his meditation technique, is sitting with ourselves, facing ourselves

    finding ourselves in zazen · stupid but valuable zazen
92. Right Action from Balance ●●● August 2014 — Banský Studenec

    the state, he says, is the state of right: when our body and mind are balanced

    balance of body and mind
93. Not Making Practice Special ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

    The most important thing is to practise balance every day. If only for ten minutes, or half an hour

    practising balance every day
94. Three Philosophies and One Reality ●●●

    When there is a balance between the two systems, we feel peaceful. That is our natural state.

    balance of the autonomic nervous system · four phases of zazen
95. Understanding the Shobogenzo ●●●

    Master Dogen wrote the Shobogenzo in order to explain his experience of reality gained from practicing Zazen.

    dropping off body and mind · studying Buddhism based on zazen
96. One Moon, Two Moons ●●●

    He calls this state action and describes it as dropping off body and mind.

    dropping off body and mind · zazen without intention
97. The Meaning of the Precepts ●●●

    So the only way to obey the precepts is to change our body and mind through the practice of Zazen.

    keeping the precepts through zazen
98. Zen Is Boring ●●●

    Boredom is important. Most of your life is dull, tasteless and boring. If you practice zazen, you learn a lot about boredom.

    boredom
99. Genjō-kōan ●●● Shobogenzo

    To be experienced by the myriad dharmas is to let our own body-and-mind, and the body-and-mind of the external world, fall away.

    dropping off body and mind
100. Buddha-nature ●●● Shobogenzo · Bussho

     We should throw away these kinds of wrong interpretations and use the practice of zazen as our reference.

     studying Buddhism based on zazen
101. Doshin ●●● Shobogenzo

     Zazen is not a method of the triple world: it is the method of the Buddhist patriarchs

     zazen as the authentic gate
102. Preface ●●● Shobogenzo

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

     world assuming the Buddha's posture · zazen without intention
103. Genjo-koan 2: Delusion and Self-Image ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

     to let our body-and-mind fall away is a description he uses in other places in the Shobogenzo to describe the state in Zazen

     dropping off body and mind
104. Bussho 3: Beyond the Process View ●●● Summer 2004 — Bussho

     introduced pure Zazen, shikantaza – just sitting, not sitting with chanting

     shikantaza as pure zazen
105. Bussho 4: Real Present Time ●●● Summer 2004 — Bussho

     All the other Zazens are imaginary. So when we compare, we always compare something that’s imaginary to something that’s real.

     comparing zazen
106. Bussho 4: The Cut Earthworm ●●● Summer 2005 — Bussho

     Just the act of making ourselves sit when we’re in pain does actually develop some kind of ability to put up with things.

     difficulties in zazen
107. Bussho 3: Acting in the Present Moment ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

     So a Buddhist lecture is not the same as Zazen

     studying Buddhism based on zazen
108. Ikka-no-myoju 2: Undivided Reality ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

     in the gaps between our thoughts, we’re here. And when we practice Zazen we practice sitting in that gap

     thinking during zazen
109. Ikka-no-myoju 3: Our Place in the Universe ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

     sitting in Zazen we reflect ourselves, we reflect the world, so we can experience reality

     experiencing reality in zazen
110. Ikka-no-myoju 5: The Four Views ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

     That's why I say Zazen is the simplest sport — and everybody wins.

     zazen as the simplest sport
111. Shoaku Makusa 1: Not Doing Wrong Here and Now ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

     When all things are balanced, then our view of wrongness is balanced.

     acting in a balanced way
112. Shoaku Makusa 5: The Child and the Old Man ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

     how can coming back to our natural state be unnatural?

     return to the natural state
113. Uji 1: The Depth of the Present ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

     we don’t have any concept of time, we’re not worrying about time, and time does not exist for us

     state in zazen
114. The Empty Trappings of Transmission ●●● September 2009 — Earth Spirit

     you can find a nice balance, a physical/mental balance. You can make yourself feel whole and not so worried

     balance of body and mind · from mountaineering to zazen
115. Just to Be Alive Is Enough ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

     We should practise zazen like someone who is dying. For someone who is dying, there's nothing to rely on.

     practising like someone who is dying
116. The Map in Our Head ●●● May 2012 — Nová Dedinka

     Drop off your body, drop off your mind means deconstruct your picture.

     dropping off body and mind
117. Prajñā: Deciding Before Thinking ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

     If we have prajñā, then the decision we make is balanced. So the whole of his morality is based on that

     acting in a balanced way
118. Life Itself Is Intelligent ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

     when we sit in balance in zazen, we are balancing our autonomic nervous system

     balance of the autonomic nervous system
119. Reality is the Present Moment ●●●

     we can recognise the true nature of reality, the true nature of time intuitively with our whole body and mind

     experiencing reality in zazen
120. Buddhism and the Theory of No-Self ●●●

     describes the state of the self that is a balance between passive (receiving) and active (using)

     jijuyo zanmai
121. Maha Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra ●●●

     the mantra that can heal all suffering, shall be known as true and without deception

     mantra that heals all suffering · samadhi as making whole
122. Genjo-koan 4: Realisation as Wholeness ●●● Summer 2002 — Genjo-koan

     when we sit in Zazen, we sit, we wobble in the interface between ourselves and the world

     wobbling as real balance
123. Bussho 1: Fully Manifesting Existence ●●● Summer 2004 — Bussho

     So we're training ourselves to slice bread, that's what Zazen is, it's slicing bread

     zazen as slicing bread
124. Uji 4: Contradictory Explanations ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

     when you got to the 6th century suddenly all these statues changed to seated buddhas

     seated buddhas of the sixth century
125. Uji 2: A Crack in Our View of Time ●●● Summer 2007 — Uji

     Oh, I'm off in my thoughts again. Oh, now I'm back in reality. Very good exercise. Kind of mental aerobics.

     zazen as mental aerobics
126. MMK 1: The Four Conditions ●●● Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika

     So it is a description of the state in Zazen, the simple state

     Heart Sutra describing zazen
127. Freedom and the Teacher’s Character ●●● August 2011 — Dibbavana

     zazen solved the problem, not exactly the problem, but solved it by changing the point of view

     zazen changing the point of view
128. Dogen and Modern Life ●●● August 2012 — Dibbavana

     when we practise zazen, the whole of the universe is practising with us, and the gods in heaven come and practise with us

     whole universe practising with us
129. The Truth as a Cup of Tea ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

     And dhyāna, or in Pali jhāna, in Chinese became Zen. Sorry, Chan. In Chinese it became Chan, because Chan sounds like jhāna.

     dhyāna

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