Hi Mel; Enjoying reading your posting . I value a lot this kind of posting as it helps me to keep in "The Comfortable Zone" of Buddha energy. What kind of stool are you using for your sitting down?. Is a Japanese zazen stool or something else?. If it's the Japanese, then do not worry too much. Your body will find its way by itself. Important is that you don't force or push your body as you can injury it. As you know by yourself experience of sitting down your conscious breathing will help you to be alert and acknowledge everything that is going on in your body as well as in your mind. As that alertness and acknowledging gets expanding more and more through continuous zazen you will come to distinguish when the discomfort is a healthy discomfort , (meaning: the mind tries to run away and start to trick one in all the possible ways. Don't give up and hold there) and the other kind of pain will be the pain of injury. These two kind of pain are different but are very easy to be sensed and see through the practice. Take care Mayka --- On Mon, 14/3/11, Mel <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Mel <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] a meditative practise, a meditative life To: "zen forum" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, 14 March, 2011, 9:27 Greetings to all Today, I got up, and the first thing I did was zazen. However, for a few seconds I kept wondering whether to first 'cleanse'/prepare the surroundings by tidying up(I'm a typical bachelor...I get messy real quick!) and then assume the 'pretzl' posture(Blame Kristy..she taught me that term...*laughter*..) Well, the 'pretzl' posture...I don't know, as I decided to pick my plastic stool and sat. Hands on thighs, eyes half-closed, and posture straight..with timer set, I just went for it. I found it fascinating. Whilst all sorts of thought went flyin' by like the clouds above, I found the visions before me fascinating. It was sort of gelatinous in the beginning, and then what little light was coming through the curtains from the outside was changing according to whether the sun was being blocked by the clouds, or shining freely and without any hindrance. From light to 'dark'(read GREY), 'dark' to light. One moment, I can see the junk around my room...another moment, just one big blur..like looking through jelly. I was absolutely fascinated. The fact that I didn't experience the discomfort and even pain that normally comes with the 'pretzl' posture for me made me enjoy the experience even more. However, sitting on a stool as described was not without costs. I often end up having to work harder to keep my posture straight(including from the neck above) with such Light to dark, dark to light, blurness to clearness and vice versa...it really shows that Buddha never ever stays the same. We breath and compose ourselves, and accept each change as it comes. One of the many thoughts that crossed my mind was...how would I accept it if I lost an arm or a leg? We see many changes in life, and we sometimes protest depending on the severity. Change can sometimes be a real serious test of belief/faith As for the junk around me which I did clear away afterwards...well...it is strange to me that there are many who are in the dark about the Zen way of life truly believe that everything must first be perfect (in the dualistic sense) before zazen, and even before in what they perceive as the Zen way of life. First, everything must be perfect...and then we can practise and live Zen...HUH??? How does one escape the 'uncleaness' of this planet of ours so we can get down to real serious zazen? We can't, and we live with the mess..and cope. Some things are just beyond the individual's control. Looking at my junk before me through half-closed eyes, I just thought to myself that this was just the tip of the ice-berg. It's a reflection of the greater mess outside of my room..in the greater world out there. The more mess, the less we see of the Buddha. We are all in a mess. What was your original face? What were you before you were born? What was there before, during, and after 'nothingness'? You can't see? Too much mess? in Buddha's grace Mel
