Joe, Somehow I find it laughable that there is no Zen without watches! Or that Zen practice needs any kind of technological crutch at all..
Did Buddha wear a Rolex? Do you lose your Buddha Nature if you forget your watch? :-) Edgar On Dec 7, 2012, at 7:14 PM, Joe wrote: > Edgar, > > I don't time my tooth-brushing; but some people's electric brushes turn off > after 3 minutes, by design. I don't know if that's contrary to the essence of > Zen, or if there is any such essence, or of hygiene, but I think it's > something to do with the ADA, the American Dental Association. > > At different practice centers, standard timed lengths of sits are the norm. > At most places, the timing is scrupulous. The reason is to keep from > frightening practitioners, even well-established ones: if they know the > period is to be 45 minutes, then let it be 45. If 30, then 30. If 25, then 25 > minutes. > > I once had a teacher tell me that he has "25-minute knees". > > Anyway, you know already that Kinhin between sits is not a "break" for the > legs (although it IS); it is just one of the many practices worked out in the > Zen tradition over centuries to help us to bring samadhi off the cushion and > into activity. So is Samu (work-practice), Dokusan, Oriyoki, Dharma-Combat, > Teisho, Bowing (prostrations), Chanting, etc., etc. A neat program, honed > over centuries by geniuses of wisdom, experience, and compassion. > > Timing is *crucial* in monastic centers, and all lay places, too. There are > TWO temples which must be in-synch at ALL times: 1.) the Ch'an Hall; and 2.) > the Kitchen. > > And, 3.), the Teacher. ;-) > > Anybody who has been an officer/leader of any kind on Sesshin, and not merely > a temple-tourist, knows this, and has worked hard to make it so, while taking > care of and settling into one's own practice at the same "time". > > Not everything on 7-day sesshin happens by Magic. You might be surprised at > what goes into it, to make it flow smoothly for all. Or, you know, if you've > been a leader/officer. > > --Joe > > PS Rohatsu ends tomorrow, and *IS* tomorrow. At least on the Gregorian > (Christian, Western) calendar. Many happy people will stream from sesshin. > > > Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > > > Chris, > > > > I use nothing. I don't time my Zen... To me that's contrary to the essence > > of Zen... > > > >
