Once you’ve sat down, in the correct way, that’s as far as the guidance goes.
Soto Zen Buddhism avoids mantras, such as the ‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo’ of Nichiren Buddhism or the ‘Om mani padme hum’ of Tibetan Buddhism. There is no chanting as part of the meditation, although the Heart Sutra is chanted afterwards – when you’re in a group.
There is also no exhortation for you to radiate lovingkindness or expand your compassion to all beings. You are not trying to picture or manifest anything. You’re not praying or even, by some definitions, including mine, meditating.
You’re just sitting.
Sitting and dealing with whatever comes up in your head.
Which, inevitably, is a lot.
But — after the practical stuff — Dōgen continues, and it immediately becomes complex.
Now sit steadfastly and think non-thinking. How do you think non-thinking? Beyond thinking.
Here, we are on our own.
Beyond thinking.
However, from experience, I’d say that there is such a state, and such a state is am extraordinary state in which to be.
To finish, I’ll quote a couple more sentences.
To practice wholeheartedly is the true endeavour of the way.
This seems incredibly bland. But if I ask myself What do I manage to engage in wholeheartedly, in all the things I do? I find it’s very little. That’s why zazen, although it seems like a form of idleness, can seem one of the most effortful activities.
When you’re furiously, incandescently bored, staying on the mat is like not pulling your hand out of a candle flame.
Practice-realization is not defiled with specialness; it is a matter for every day.
I think this is the most beautiful part of the translation – that something, unlike the Pope or Christmas pudding – not be ‘defiled with specialness’.
Zazen is practice-realization, or practice-enlightenment, both at the same time, because – going back to something Dogen says earlier on – even if you became so-called enlightened, you’d still do zazen. You are already doing the right thing.
You should observe the example of [the] Buddha… who practiced sitting up straight for six years even though he was gifted with intrinsic wisdom.
And that’s it.
End of slide show, click to exit.
