Tony In one form or another I think everyone has difficulty with the formless openness of shikantaza--the mind loves form. I've practiced with the tibetan tradition as well but it was Dzogchen/Mahamudra which is similar to shikantaza. I'm no meditation Guru but here goes: 1 Just be aware of the tendency to try to meditate on emptiness. Get to know this form hungry mind. And let it be. 2 Counting the breath or just being aware of the breath is how some Zen teachers start people out. Closer to shikantaza proper is to just be aware of the whole body sitting breathing in the space right here (this includes the environment). Within that body/environment space everything can come and go. The feeeling is being present expansive accomodating. Above all remember falling off the path is part of the path! Best Alan
--- sx3tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have been recommended to do Shikantaza. I have > come to Zen from a > Tibetan Buddhist background and am finding > Shikantaza extremely > difficult. My mind want to conceptualise and analyze > Emptiness. I am > constantly wanting to meditate on the Emptiness of > 'self' instead of > practicing Shikantaza. > > Has anyone else experienced such hurdles? If so any > advice on this > practice would be gratefully received! > > Tony... > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> 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/
