Bill!,
Funny, when I was with Sheng Yen the first few long retreats, I used a
variation of the more standard Zazen mudra. I used one that I had seen on a
Buddha stature. I loved it! It was very good for my practice. I'll save 'til
later a description of the effects, in the appropriate thread, which I started
this morning, here. But suffice it momentarily to say it's a mudra from
Original Buddhism. Maybe Theravada.
My arms are long, you see, as I am tall of stature, and I am a little lanky
like Lincoln. Alliterative, too. ;-) Alas and alack.
When I began sitting a little higher, though -- on not such a thin cushion -- I
found I could use the standard mudra with even better effects (quicker). I
still use that latter mudra, 35 years on.
Sometimes I go back to the first one, just to revisit "Theravada", ...and shake
hands with Shakyamuni! (our cousin).
Having these technologies, for me, is like having Spock's "tri-corder", or
Confucious' abacus. And batteries don't need to be included.
Never sit down without 'em.
Future antiquities. But the present ones are the best.
These ARE the good old days! Thanks to the old guys who came before.
Strong practice,
--Joe
> "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote:
>
> Edgar,
>
> Although a standard standard hand position is not mandatory in zen, it is
> strongly encouraged in Zen Buddhism.
>
> If, as you say, you believe (as I do) that hand position does not really
> matter then you shouldn't have any objections to the recommendation of the
> standard Zen Buddhist hand position (Japanese and Korean) as described by Joe
> in an earlier post.
>
> After all the hand position doesn't matter, does it?
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