Comments on: Adventures in zazen meditation, part 2

By: Warrior Two

Warrior Two — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:13:03 +0000

I set myself a ten-minute meditation time, but I use a nifty kitchen timer to mark the time. It has a blinking light when my time is up that I can see out of the corner of my eye (it can also be set to vibrate or beep, or all three). Once I set it, I get my mind off the time. Until I got it, my practice wasn't particularly consistent.

By: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:24:16 +0000

Amen to that, sister! Welcome to the L8B, Alice!

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:11:09 +0000

I agree the ratty old pillow is all you really need. I sat on a cushion from my couch for a year when I started, and even though I have a set-up now with my “mystic zafu” and zabuton, I still think back on that cushion with much fondness. Too bad the couch has been long sold…

By: Tornadoes28

Tornadoes28 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:28:57 +0000

Thank you for this good advice. I may try it. I am not sure exactly what I expect to get out of doing this practice though. But I think that is the point. One should not necessarily do this in order to “get” something out of it. You should just do it.

By: NellaLou

NellaLou — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:19:32 +0000

Always enjoy your posts Gerald. Zazen is often so formalized that many don’t want to go through all the bother of the ritual. But the point I think is to know is that it is suitable for here and now. Wherever someone is and whatever their circumstances. If one doesn’t perceive even that basic reality (the whole point of zazen actually) then zazen will be a frustrating and illusory experience.