Thanks Genryu
In fact thanks to everyone who has replied to my initial mail. I am finding two things happening at the moment. As I have said I am that used to starting a formal meditation session on the Emptiness of Self by an analytical method involving trying to definitively identify exactly how I appear to myself (no pun intended). Then through a process of deductive reasoning reveal that I cannot be found in the parts of my body nor in my mind. Thus the Empty nature of the self is unveiled through logic and then I would attempt to mix my mind with that Emptiness. Not I just sit! Hahaha! How mad is that. What is that going to do? My cat can just sit blankly staring into space - in fact he is more than adept at that. Do I want to be a cat? The other thing happening is when I get to some sort of quietude through following my breath for example, I find myself thinking about Empitiness. I gain what I guess you would call an insight but then feel thoroughly un-inspired. Let me give you an example: I felt very strongly how I appear quite different to myself when in different peoples company. When with my wife 'I' am completely different that when with a work collegue. This (when in meditation) helped me see the transitory nature of my sense of self, and its dependent arising. But then I thought "...so what...?". I felt like screaming for something to reveal itself to my mind "... WELL COME ON THEN!!!". Now sitting feelslike a useless chore. All advice welcome as ever! Tony.. --- In [email protected], "Rev Genryu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Tony, > > The advice you were given was actually to work with your breathing before attempting Shikantaza, though Shikantaza is not that dissimilar to Dzogchen, with which you have some familiarity. Following the breath, after a time, naturally leads into Shikantaza, but it is best to do Shikantaza itself with the support of a suitably qualified teacher. Training in Zen does assume that one at some point is working with a teacher and a Sangha, if possible. > > Genryu > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: sx3tony > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 6:36 AM > Subject: [Zen] Shikantaza. > > > > I have been recommended to do Shikantaza. I have come to Zen from a > Tibetan Buddhist background and am finding Shikantaza extremely > difficult. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ 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/
