Merle,
Choose any way of sitting with the spine straight.
Eyes always OPEN in zazen.
Incense may burn in the room, and it has an exact purpose.
We do not "listen for gongs", but bells are used to send signals so that the
voice need never be used.
I know you are clearly quoting someone else, but even they have it exactly
wrong, so be careful who you crib from!
Seriously, if you sit an hour a day, does not everything during the remaining
twenty three hours shine more beautifully?
No?
I know I'm not the only one -- not the only Painter -- to see this.
Try two hours?
There may be intense enjoyment and suffering in life with no practice, but
there is no awakening, and there is ...no Zen.
That's the bottom line, recognized by Accountants as far back as 2500 years
ago, and up to this day. ;-)
Probably tomorrow, too.
I think each of us should be sure not to disparage practice, even if we have
rejected it personally for ourselves, or never tasted it.
Now, Merle, I know you were only saying that it is not *your* way, and I
understand that. But you got all the details wrong in your quote. So, maybe
you're saying something better than is obvious. Because, *not* to practice the
false things you quoted is at least not blatant and consummate foolishness.
But that's pretty neutral, and not yet positive.
You might tell us what practice is to you, then, if you have a moment.
--Joe
> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
> .practising zen to me is not sitting cross legged on "handwoven mats, eyes
> shut tight, sniffing incense and listening to gongs."
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