Shikantaza Meditation
Shikantaza meditation is beyond words, and cannot be described in words. However most teachers have left ...
Clues
for your Search for the
Treasure of your True Dharma Eye
Their suggestive words and phrase, from various teachers and teachings, include
just sitting, while meticulously upright
wholeheartedly be here now
already complete
desireless, notion-less emptiness
being empty of oneself
each moment fresh, and new
big mind, and small mind, are one mind
be koan, be shikantaza
merging, being absorbed
koan "Who am I?" and koan "What is This"
right effort, leading to no effort
totally subjective body-mind-universe, Buddha's eye
purely experiential
the self selfing itself, for itself
releasing all energy, and effort
the dharma gate of joy and ease
innocence of Time
the flowering of Love
Some suggestive prohibitory words or phrases, from various sources
think not-thinking, non-thinking, beyond thinking
One must disappear in the sitting
don't go anywhere, just stay (aware, present and inclusive)
non-excluding
unstained -- no preferences, desires or aversions
non objective, free of objects
drop off body and mind
no ego involvement
non judgmental, not believing in ideas or ideals, conscious or unconscious
non belonging, with no me or mine
no gaining, achieving or attaining
no hope, idea, or expectation, conscious or unconscious
..."when we sit we are nothing, we do not even realize what we are"...
Doing: Just sitting, settling, fully present and attentive, --
Feelings and thoughts arise, are noticed, and let go
Thinking mind becomes quiet, open, flexible, appreciative, noticing, responsive, aware, without boundaries
Being: Body is grounded in awareness, with waves of
sensations, impulses
emotions
thoughts
muscle tensions, supporting uprightness
breathing
consciousness
From Gen-un-KEN (
Arul M. Arokiasamy S.J.):
"Zen is not confined to Zazen, the seated meditation on the cushion.
Zen is a way of life, and the whole of life is the field of Zen.
However, seated meditation or Zazen - which comprises both shikantaza and koan meditation -
is central to the Zen way.
Zazen is to Zen what the Eucharist is to the Christian Church..."
"What is central in shikantaza or just-sitting is just that-just sitting,
being here and now, being present; letting-go and letting-be.
It is not a matter of trying to achieve some particular state of consciousness.
Not trying to achieve anything, and not trying not to achieve anything.
No goals, no comparisons, no judgments, no achievements.
It is just be-ing there, present, aware and grounded in body awareness.
Be-ing-with oneself, being one's self, being-with all.
In a deep sense, Zazen is consciousness becoming conscious of itself,
awareness resting on awareness.
It is the transformation of body-mind-universe
into a non-dual awareness/consciousness."
Other suggestions
Cliff's Shikantaza
Back to
Mind and Meditation