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For those who do or have practiced zazen, would you be willing to share your thoughts on your experience with it, positive or negative?
Shikantaza helps me relax after a stressful day at work. I don't do it every day, because I'm a pretty stress-free person to start with, but occasionally it's useful for me.
Like all meditation . . . it can be useful for stress reduction and centering . . . but it is limited by the lack of a corollary training or discipline that must be achieved separately (not during meditation). You must attain control over your autonomic system separately by learning the internal cues that correspond to slowing heart rate, breathing, brain states (waves) . . . or you will never get to the "end state." I had to use biofeedback training until I could reliably achieve control and then incorporate it into my meditations. They are two separate right brain disciplines.
Shikantaza helps me relax after a stressful day at work. I don't do it every day, because I'm a pretty stress-free person to start with, but occasionally it's useful for me.
I'm new to this so appreciate hearing helpful new terminology to read up on (like shikantaza), so thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticPhD
Like all meditation . . . it can be useful for stress reduction and centering . . . but it is limited by the lack of a corollary training or discipline that must be achieved separately (not during meditation). You must attain control over your autonomic system separately by learning the internal cues that correspond to slowing heart rate, breathing, brain states (waves) . . . or you will never get to the "end state." I had to use biofeedback training until I could reliably achieve control and then incorporate it into my meditations. They are two separate right brain disciplines.
Sounds interesting, Mystic. Sounds a little too intense for me, though. I spent too much time and energy as a Christian trying to reach an "end state". What appeals to me as I've read just a bit about zazen is the idea that it isn't really a means to an end. I like the simplicity of it, and that there doesn't seem to be any emphasis on striving to reach some arbitrary goal set for me by someone else.
Sit still and do nothing. In time meditation will come to you. Thinking about it and discussing it is contrary to what meditation is. Think of it as approaching and then crossing a boundary from mind (thinking) to meditation (non-thinking). You'll find that where the active mind is in a continual dialogue about this thing and that thing and all sorts of things, including doubts and confusion, meditation is the button that clears memory, at least during the time one is engaged in it. The interesting thing to me is that it (the clarity of meditation) has a residual calming effect that spills over into the non-meditative, active mind state. With time and practice, you can turn to meditation while doing most anything, like walking, sitting, lying down, etc.
Sitting and doing nothing(allowing the active mind to turn off) is a very difficult thing for most people. It goes counter to what the mind wants to do, which is to be continuously active and engaged. The mind resists being turned off. But it can be done, and then it becomes relatively easy.
Last edited by nezlie; 10-05-2010 at 12:26 PM..
Reason: added last statement
Sit still and do nothing. In time meditation will come to you. Thinking about it and discussing it is contrary to what meditation is. Think of it as approaching and then crossing a boundary from mind (thinking) to meditation (non-thinking). You'll find that where the active mind is in a continual dialogue about this thing and that thing and all sorts of things, including doubts and confusion, meditation is the button that clears memory, at least during the time one is engaged in it. The interesting thing to me is that it (the clarity of meditation) has a residual calming effect that spills over into the non-meditative, active mind state. With time and practice, you can turn to meditation while doing most anything, like walking, sitting, lying down, etc.
Sitting and doing nothing(allowing the active mind to turn off) is a very difficult thing for most people. It goes counter to what the mind wants to do, which is to be continuously active and engaged. The mind resists being turned off. But it can be done, and then it becomes relatively easy.
Thanks for chiming in nezlie. I suppose it does seem counterintuitive to think or discuss meditation. But, as a newbie to the practice, I am still hoping others might be willing to share whether their experience with it has been positive or negative, or even neutral, and why.
For those who do or have practiced zazen, would you be willing to share your thoughts on your experience with it, positive or negative?
i wasn't cut out for sitting still and quiet. my brain just doesn't "stop running" like that. it is absolutely maddening for me to sit there with no stimulation of any sort. I have 24/7 music, or games, or internet, or conversation, and its more or less been that way since i was born.
it isn't zazen, but when i drive my car i do engage in something that feels vaguely similar to zazen. or washing dishes, or any variety of tasks where i can concentrate on the repetition.
I have found that even a few minutes of sitting meditation each morning creates a whole different day for me. It's hard to quiet the internal monologue but when it happens it's wonderful and peaceful and makes the whole day better.
i wasn't cut out for sitting still and quiet. my brain just doesn't "stop running" like that. it is absolutely maddening for me to sit there with no stimulation of any sort. I have 24/7 music, or games, or internet, or conversation, and its more or less been that way since i was born.
it isn't zazen, but when i drive my car i do engage in something that feels vaguely similar to zazen. or washing dishes, or any variety of tasks where i can concentrate on the repetition.
I also have trouble sitting stilll for any length of time some days. I always set a timer for a short time period ... it's like a built in escape hatch.
I've read that repititious activities boost beta-endorphins so it makes sense to me that it would have benefits similar to zazen. Thanks for the reminder that there's more than one way to skin a cat, le roi.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WillynillyTalc
Don't do something, just sit there!
I have found that even a few minutes of sitting meditation each morning creates a whole different day for me. It's hard to quiet the internal monologue but when it happens it's wonderful and peaceful and makes the whole day better.
So far, I'm spending 10 minutes at a time unsucessfuly trying to get my mind to shut up, which isn't particularly peaceful, lol. It's encouraging to hear that you've mastered it to the point where it's actually helpful. Gives me hope.
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