‘Zazen is much bigger and much deeper than the territory of conscious grasping. Its size and depth is beyond our imagination. Its subtlety is beyond our scope. When we do zazen, we should put a higher priority on what is quietly happening beyond our knowing by perceiving and thinking than on what we can experience consciously. This is very distressing for us who live with the assumption that what we can perceive is all that exists. As humans we deeply desire to know everything, to be satisfied by understanding everything. Therefore, it is unbearable that, however hard we practice zazen, we cannot expect to see the results and effects of the effort ourselves. Usually we can only feel satisfaction, fulfillment, pride and so forth only when we can clearly see the results and effects of our effort. Nevertheless, in the case of zazen we cannot do it. So zazen is exactly “to have all our efforts for nothing.” So we have tremendous difficulty in finding a positive reason to do zazen. Then how can we motivate ourselves to do zazen? Nothing to gain. Nothing to enlighten. Nothing to satisfy us…. There is absolutely nothing in zazen.’ (from the Soto Zen Journal)
Issho Fujita
Responses
-
Shundo David: I enjoy your daily messages and would like to suggest a few for possible future use:
I am very inspired by Shodo Harada these days and will probably go to sesshin with him soon.
From Shodo Harada, Not One Single Thing, p 59
“The Dharma is bright and clear with nothing to hide. Some realize this quickly, and some take far longer to see through the many things cluttering their understanding. This Dharma is not an idea created by the Buddha but his actual experience of awakening to this true mind directly. When we let go of all words, we contact that true essence, the same place the Buddha realized in his awakening.”
“People are constantly in a state of desire, and that makes us confused and unclear. Even recognizing our foolishness and vowing to help each other won’t resolve everything. The clear bright essence of mind has to be awakened to. You have only one life. Don’t waste it. It’s not about being praised and complimented, but about realizing how joyful you can be that you were born. “
more…..
LikeLike
-
Thank you Alan for your kind words and generosity. Yes, this is a book I have enjoyed, and in my post-2020 way, have not finished. Don’t be surprised to see these passages pop up soon. 🙏🏼
LikeLike
-
Shundo David Haye - Zen Priest 
Leave a reply to shundo Cancel reply