Thank you Joe. In looking them up I see very little difference yet you all use the different words. From the source of all things Wikipedia: --- ----Shikantaza - literally means, "nothing but (shikan) precisely (da) sitting (za)." In other words Dōgen means by this, "doing only zazen whole-heartedly" or "single-minded sitting." Shikantaza implies "just sitting", and according to author James Ishmael Ford, "Some trace the root of this word to the pronunciation of the Pāli vipassana, though this is far from certain." Author Steve Hagen describes the Japanese word in four parts: shi means tranquility, kan means awareness, ta means hitting exactly the right spot (not one atom off), and za means to sit. Za is the same as in the word zazen, sitting.
----Zazen - is just sitting, "opening the hand of thought", that is, suspending all judgmental thinking and letting words, ideas, images and thoughts pass by without getting involved in them ----Vipassana - is anapanasati, mindfulness of breathing, is used to become aware of the impermanence of everything that exists. Why the insistance on different words? ________________________________ From: Joe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, April 13, 2013 2:26:43 PM Subject: [Zen] (unknown) William, Vipassana is a school and tradition of practice; it's more closely aligned with original Buddhist teachings, and ways. Zazen is a practice of the Zen schools. Shikantaza is a practice of the Soto lineage of Zen. --Joe PS I've seen the Dalai Lama 3 times in New York City; he may be in his "last days", so it would be good to see him if you have the chance. I find him a kind heart and clear-spoken. > William Rintala <brintala@...> wrote: > > I'm sure that you have all discussed this before and at the risk of another > war > > of words can you tell me what the differences are between Shikantaza, > Vipassana > > and Zazen and why you prefer one over the other? I sit with a group of >Tibetan > > Buddhists, I need to ask them what is the name that they have for our >meditation > > style. The leader is a devotee/follower of Pema Chodran. The Dali Lama > is visiting our city in a few weeks and she is urging me to come and be >present > > for that.Â
