Edgar, I have NEVER said sitting (zazen) is the 'end all and be all' of zen practice. I have always described zazen as the best way I know to first experience Buddha Nature. I also believe zazen is a very important part of zen practice - perhaps even fundamental to it. It is in mine and in every other student of zen I know if.
It is not however the ONLY facet of my practice. Why don't you concentrate on telling the forum what YOU do for YOUR zen practice and quit worrying about mine? ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > It's important to the GROUP because you claim sitting is the end all and be > all of Zen when it's not... > > Edgar > > > > On May 1, 2013, at 9:10 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > Edgar, > > > > I only sit for 20 mins at a time. I don't know where the 22 mins came from. > > If I typed that then it was a typo. > > > > I take a 5-min break in between sessions when I sit multiple sessions. > > Sometimes I only sit 1 session but usually 2, and sometimes 3. > > > > I intend to sit daily but usually only manage it 3-5 days a week. > > > > Sometimes I substitute bowing or chanting for a 20-min session. > > > > I don't know how many hours I sit a week on average. I'd estimate 4 x 40 = > > 160 mins or about 2-1/2 hours a week. > > > > Why is this important to you? It's not to me. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> wrote: > > > > > > Bill, > > > > > > Previously you told us you sat only 3 times a week for 2 sessions of 22 > > > minutes apiece which totals less than 3 hours a week... > > > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > > > > > On Apr 30, 2013, at 9:58 PM, Bill! wrote: > > > > > > > Joe, Edgar and Everyone, > > > > > > > > I sit (zazen) almost every day. I actually intend to sit every day but > > > > some days that schedule is interrupted. When I sit it is usually in the > > > > morning shortly after I wake and take a shower but BEFORE breakfast or > > > > any stimulants like a cup of tea. When I sit I sit for 20 minutes and > > > > then get up and walk around about 5 minutes to stretch my legs. I like > > > > to repeat this two more times for a total of 3 sessions of sitting. > > > > Sometimes I substitute bowing or chanting for sitting or for one of the > > > > sessions. Sometimes I only sit 1 or 2 sessions, and sometimes like I > > > > said not at all. > > > > > > > > What are your practices vis-a-vis zazen or some other form of > > > > meditation? > > > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Edgar, > > > > > > > > > > When I sit, I sit in the world of forms. Granted, I stay with my > > > > > method of meditation. Except when I don't. And then I come back to > > > > > it. This is Practice, and keeping and putting-in-a-foundation. It's > > > > > not to be neglected, and neither has it ever been deprecated by the > > > > > Old Masters, nor even our quite young, recent, master teachers. > > > > > > > > > > To my mind, Zazen is the indispensable 1/13th part of Zen practice. > > > > > > > > > > We all know too how little Bill! needs to sit, because he revealed it > > > > > here. Howdy!, and kudos, Bill!(!). > > > > > > > > > > So, Edgar: Start a point, please, because ...so far you have none. > > > > > > > > > > --Joe > > > > > > > > > > PS If you were ever really one of their students, you'd have done > > > > > more than *hear* about sitting from those traditional Zen masters you > > > > > don't name. And you would definitely have heard about it, and not > > > > > "almost never". Neither Dogen nor Hongzi mentioned it? Well, it's in > > > > > their writings: As contemporaries, they were both 13th Century C.E. > > > > > figures; their vocalizations have faded. > > > > > > > > > > > Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Joe and Bill, > > > > > > > > > > > > It is true that sitting is almost never mentioned in the words of > > > > > > the traditional Zen masters. Enlightenment Zen experience is almost > > > > > > always the result of actions IN THE WORLD OF FORMS and consists of > > > > > > seeing the true nature of the world of forms. > > > > > > > > > > > > You two are totally outside of and go against Zen tradition by the > > > > > > exclusive emphasis you put on sitting.... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
