Mike, The 'nice try' was just a joke.
I do agree with you that ritualizing zazen is something that a lot of people do. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > "Nice try" at what? Like I said in my previous post, you're not attached to > your zafu like I'm not attached to the jhanas. Or does your zen have a > monopoly on teaching against attachments? > > Mike > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, 2 June 2011, 9:48 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen, zen and Theravada Buddhism > > > Â > Mike, > > Nice try but my attachment to my zafu is via my butt and not my > discriminating mind. I don't contemplate the various attributes of my zafu > while sitting. Like, 'What is it that keeps me off the floor?'. > > In sesshins (Japanese Zen Buddhist meditation retreats)I have sat as long as > 40 mins periods, and even up to 60 mins occasionally when the > time-keeper goes to sleep. > > I never try to 'sit through' pain in my legs or back. I will make some > adjustments to try to alleviate the pain and continue sitting, but if that > fails I'll just get up, walk around a little and then return to sitting. > Usually pain in the legs or back is do to bad sitting posture so I make sure > my posture is correct when I return to sitting. > > ...Bill! > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > Bill!, > > > > So it's safe to say you have no attacments to where or how you sit, other > > than what is comfortable at that particular time? Same with the jhanas. > > They take you deeper into your meditation and help to make the session last > > longer (much like discovering a zafu that fits your bum correctly ;) But > > they are not essential. There are warnings aplenty in the literature I've > > read against becoming attached to them just like anything else (at the risk > > of becoming a 'bliss-bunny'). > > > > > > I usually time my sittings between 40-60 mins depending on how busy I am. > > If I have time I'll do this twice a day, but at least once in the evening. > > I usually sit cross-legged, but will sometimes sit Burmese style. If I'm > > feeling that the session is going well (in a vipassana sense), but the pain > > is becoming too distracting, then I'll stay mindful of my movements, but > > change to a more comfortable position. However, the 40-60 min session is > > usually done with no movement or changing of position whatsoever (I wasn't > > kidding when I said vipassana is the SAS of meditation sessions!).ÃÂ > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Wednesday, 1 June 2011, 16:08 > > Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen, zen and Theravada Buddhism > > > > > > ÃÂ > > Mike, > > > > At home I have a zafu and zabuton. My zafu is x-large to accomodate my > > x-large butt. I sit cross-legged now. I used to sit in a half-lotus but > > never could really manage a full-lotus. I eventually found the half-lotus > > to put me into a little bit of a tilt so I now just sit cross-legged, and > > switch the top and bottom leg occasionally when I remember to do so. I > > usually sit for 3-consequtive 20-minute periods with a 5-minute break in > > between to get up and stretch, walk around or go to the toliet. > > > > When I travel I just stuff a pillow between my legs and sit in a kneeling > > position; or if that doesn't work I just sit on a firm chair (wood is > > best), sitting on the front edge with my back straight and not leaning > > against the chair. > > > > How about you? > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > > > Bill!, > > > > > > >or (IMO) ATTACHMENT to jhanas. > > > > > > Do you usually use a zafu/mat etc. to sit zazen, or do you just sit > > > wherever? > > > > > > Mike > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
