Zazen Notes

Does anyone else out there struggle with a good seated position? The position that I end up in is basically one leg on top of the other. I’ve seen this called quarter lotus, but I’m not sure. Anyway, I’m worried this will put a lot of pressure on my knees and mess everything up. Any thoughts?

If you focus on the stretch and ...  read more

Zen teacher Torei Enji said:

It is relatively easy to accomplish the important matter of insight into one’s true nature, but uncommonly difficult to function freely and clearly…

Layman Pang’s daughter Lingzhao described what it is to “function freely and clearly”:

Layman Pang was with his whole family sitting around the fire. Layman Pang suddenly said, ‘Difficult, difficult–ten bushels of oil hemp spread out on ...  read more

A friend of mine reports that he has trouble falling asleep, and getting back to sleep when he wakes up early.

I sent him a copy of Waking Up and Falling Asleep, and I wrote:

I think it’s easier to experience the things I talk about in “Waking Up and Falling Asleep” when you’re actually trying to fall asleep, but you could also try it sitting on the edge of one of your kitchen chairs.

Here’s the practice interval that Gautama the Shakyan (“the Blessed One”) ...  read more