Study Practice

June 9, 2009 Will Simpson

"Study Practice" number 70 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Zen practice starts with zazen. No matter what we think or expect, zazen works us, lives us. Slowly, without our knowledge, we develop a spirit of concentration and presence. This spirit or what I like to call 'sense tone' becomes stronger not only while in classical zazen but also during our kinhin or walking meditation practice. This walking becomes infused with this same sense tone.

Taizan Maezumi said, "Kinhin is simply another way to do zazen."

My practice started to move when this occurred. At one recent sesshin I was just walking kinhin, around and around, following the person in front of me, hoping my sore legs would loosen up and suddenly I noticed I had been in deep concentration exactly like when I had been when sitting zazen. Realize that there is no 'purpose' to Zazen or kinhin, yet kinhin is an extension of zazen. Muster all the same energy and focus for your kinhin as you do for your zazen. Why wasn't this explained to me and emphazied when I was as a beginner. This is a downfall of my particular sangha or my own lack of inquisitiveness.

This "life as an extension of zazen" can at first be easily practiced in the quite and supportive environment of sesshin. Sitting, advances to walking which advances to sutra recital which turn to the opportunity to have 'eating practice'. Each step advancing and building.

Then comes work practice. Here we must actually communicate and interact with others. To do this with that same 'sense feeling' or the equanimity of zazen is hard. So easy for the mind to buck and run like a wild horse. But such is practice. Notice where you are, ask who is present, watch mind make mind-world and come back to practice. Let all that be as it is. Use what ever upaya available to drop into your zazen whether that is counting your breath, asking 'who hears', mindfully naming your experience or just being present to whatever is arising.

This has been a too long introduction to today's miniature. Study Practice.

Study practice fits right in with sitting practice, walking practice, sutra recitation, eating practice, work practice and study practice. Now I see that study practice is zazen extended. Approach study practice with the same energy and commitment as a sitting practice.

Early in my practice I only read modern Zen texts. Stuff like Three Pillers of Zen, Beginner's Mind, Alan Watts, Thich Nhat Hahn and Joko Beck. There is nothing wrong with these authors. They can help us frame the Buddhism and our practice into our Western culture. Yet something happens when we look directly at the classical texts and wiggle around the those antient words. There is a place for both 'pop-culture' Zen texts like Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master and also 'classical' Zen texts like Shodoka: Song of Freedom. I'm leaning towards classical Zen with modern commentary.

Right here I vow to "step up my game" and extend my zazen into my study.

Pico Iyer wrote a sweet article on simplicity that carries the sense of equanimity in just being present. Recommended.
The Joy of Less - Happy Days Blog - NYTimes.com

Any error or confusion created by my commentary on Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.

Yaza

June 8, 2009 Will Simpson

"Yaza" number 69 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Today, it is back to work after a three day silent Zen Mediation retreat with my friends from the Spokane Zen Center. Retreats have a different flavor from a sesshin. I prefer the atmosphere of a full on serious sesshin. Some of the retreats I've been on have been a bit too casual with more talking and distracting activities that necessary.

...I was going to say something here that was now to kind about my experience at the end of the retreat but instead, I'll self edit and spare everyone that mess. One powerful experience I had on retreat was the sense that the whole sitting, walking, surta reciting, eating and work practice cycle was completely and utterly routine. If felt so natural. Like there was nothing else to do nor had I been doing anything else my whole life. This was utterly not special and as ordinary as ordinary can be.

Yaza is 'extra' sitting usually done at night or very very early in the morning. This was the first retreat that yaza was not encouraged. Not that it was discouraged, it was just not spoken about. We all must be getting old.

This has been too self reflective. No one is at all interest in what I think. That includes me. So why do it? Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Important work

June 4, 2009 Will Simpson

"Important work" number 68 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

As Zen practitioners, "what important work we are doing." Each morning I get up and sit. At first there were days I did not want to sit. I'd sit anyway. Lately this routine of daily sitting has become so warm and friendly that I'd rather miss breakfast and a shower to make time to sit.

Sometimes lately, I've had the thought that maybe I should cut short my 25 minutes of sitting. I feel the urge to get up and check the bird feeder or just get a head start on my day. When that thought arises, I remember 'what important work I'm doing'. My actions are the ground on which I stand, they are my only true belongings.

Recently I listened to a inspiring audio talk by Genjo Marinello on Case 87 of Hekiganroku. The case involves Zen Master Ummon about how medicine and sickness cure each other. In it at the 6:45 mark suddenly Genjo starts admonishing the Jikijitsu for ending the meditation period too soon. He then points out that the clapping blocks used to start a meditation period were not placed correctly. "Little things become big things if left unattended to." This is the important work of a practitioner. Notice and act appropriately in the moment. This is definitely my experience.

I am off on a short retreat with my friends from the Spokane Zen Community. I'll be back Monday morning to continue the exploration of Miniatures of a Zen Master. Up next is Yaza or "Night Sitting". This has always hooked me at sesshin or on retreat as I am attached to my sleep rhythm.

A World Religion

June 3, 2009 Will Simpson

"A World Religion" number 67 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Senzaki Sensei said "Zazen is not for everyone." Yes, indeed, I can see that. It is the Zen style to be quiet and not proselytize. This seems at first counter to the vow to save all the beings. But embedded with to save all beings is the reassurance that there is no need to hurry or rush. There is plenty of time.

I really like Shinzen Young's take on all practitioners being subtle teachers. He talked about it in one of the videos I posted a couple of days ago. Just by practicing and slowly soaking up the teachings, each of us becomes an example. People around us notice the small and not so small changes in us. This naturally encourages curiosity. Like bees to flowers. The trap is sprung!

Ailments of Old Age

June 2, 2009 Will Simpson

"Ailments of Old Age" number 66 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Current conditions are the result of past actions. Thich Nhat Hanh said "This is like this because that is like that." Aitken Roshi says that "the problem with this truism is that usually by the time it rings true, it's too late."

This motivates me to take care in the now. Not always of course, but more and more.

Not Conventional

June 1, 2009 Will Simpson

"Not Conventional" number 65 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

There are a wide variety of Zen teaching styles. The differences are mostly emphasis. Some emphasize silent mediation, some koan study, some chanting or even singing the sutras. In some styles of teaching the arts are important and in others the physical aspects of training are emphasized. Some teaching styles incorporate our modern technologies. Some deemphasize most all technologies. Some are traditional and some lean a bit towards 'new-age'. Some teachers use poetry as a vehicle and some use psychology. Some teachers are a unaccessible because of the size of their following and and some are inaccessible because of the details of modern life.

This doesn't mean that Zen is 'willy-nilly' any thing goes. It is just that teaching styles are widely varied to match the widely varied student. Teaching styles evolve and devolve. Are they any more effective today than in Dogen's time?

Here are a few videos that relate to today's miniature. They are very geeky and in a nice way, technically eloquent. The teacher here is Shinzen Young.

The Great Master

May 31, 2009 Will Simpson

"The Great Master" number 64 of 200 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Spring Palouse Evening - From WoodenZen

"'Don't look around'. The guidance of the Buddha himself is encapsulated in those words." This is a continuation of the Buddha's "be a light unto yourself".

This feels like the kind of advice that is easy to overlook. Isn't Zen practice harder than "don't look around"? What this doesn't say is that once we stop looking "around" for answers or for comparison to see how we are doing, what we are left with is looking "right here". The sound of the wren, Mary rustling papers, the hum of the CPU fans. The muscles straining to hold my back in place as I hunch forward over the keyboard, each finger rhythmically finding its key. These confirm my connection with life. Not the other way around.

In the past, answers to life's important questions have never come looking 'out there'. Yet we persist in continuing to "look around" hoping to find some answer.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
–Author Unknown

This is Zen's greatest attributes, the cutting through of complexity. The practice and realization is actually so easy, so right under our noses that we miss it completely. When we get a glimpse, we dismiss as not being the real thing. We mistakenly think the realization has to be grand and either intellectually or emotionally orgasmic.

Yet it is as simple as "don't look around." I'm going to follow that advice and see where I'm lead.