Bob,
Thanks for posting the "notes" to the Group site as a .doc file. Well done and
generous teaching and encouragement. Gee, I wish I could sit with your group.
I'll note that, in general, in Zen practice as I've encountered it as taught
and as practiced, we do not close the eyes.
There are two reason for this.
One is that we do not screen-out ANYTHING in our practice, as I've found it.
All six senses are allowed to operate without screening. The "mind" is usually
considered one of the six senses, so we do not suppress or screen out thoughts
either: instead, we put all attention on the method of practice. If thoughts
arise, we just do not follow them: that is not "screening", but it is just
doing ONE thing at a time: remaining concentrated upon the method of practice
in the time when we set ourself to practice.
The second reason is that Zen practice is about opening to wisdom, through
awakening. Closed eyes can lead to drowsiness and ... to sleep.
Well, nothing new in these comments. And they are just that,
comments.
I like your noting the usefulness of the point of contact of the hands. I find
in general that a closed mudra comes more naturally in our way of sitting, and
does more good than an open mudra, a dispersing mudra, or no mudra. Hmm-m, I
meant to write about this here last week, but the death of a very close sangha
friend intervened and put me off doing much of anything: "Jim", a fellow who
practiced his zazen with us always in a wheelchair. I'll get back to writing
sometime.
Thanks again posting!
--Joe
> "bobthomas564" <bobthomas564@...> wrote:
> I also put statements and questions I prepare to them after the group. I have
> attached a couple - (oops! attachments not so easy will try another time).
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