Not negatives, just distractions at the most, and arguably to some not even important. But to me, they are the things that play into my demeanor and disposition, and sometimes my stress and mental clarity. For you they may not be distractions, for me they can be at times. Sometimes these things could be sources of Dukkha in my life. It's not that I need to eliminate or get rid of them, but they bring certain negative feelings to my life, so for me, sometimes they are Dukkha. It doesn't mean I need to give them up, but it means I either need to get over the anxiety or stress they cause, or give them up if deemed to be impossible. Video games, as one example, were a huge cause of this in my life, and so was smoking pot. They were things that I could not deal with mentally, so they had to be removed from my life. That was part of my personal austerity and cessation of suffering. Those two things caused a lot of "unsatisfactoryness" in my life (not a word, but it's the only way I can explain it other than saying Dukkha again, which encompasses lots of negative feelings in life.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukkha Perhaps the very pursuit and dedication to finding enlightenment IS enlightenment, and many schools and masters would agree with exactly that understanding of it. You'll notice most texts and writers on the subject will never tell you what enlightenment exactly is. Perhaps after years of sitting and searching, Buddha discovered that the very act of sitting and searching was the enlightenment, that the act of looking for that goal so hard was the goal in and of itself. What enlightenment is, even within Zen itself, will be described differently by different schools. In reading Buddhist scripture and books, you'll notice the common pattern that even I'm repeating here, in that things are almost entirely described in riddles and metaphor, and that there is no clear answers for lots of the questions a student will ask. That's part of the rub, is to figure it out for yourself, and what these things all mean, and more importantly mean to you. Zen can only be understood through the practice, so explaining it becomes difficult. Like I said earlier, it's easier to say what it isn't than what it is. For Japanese Zen (Soto), they would tell you and I that we are already enlightened by merely practicing. Take this excerpt from the wiki... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#Soto So like I was saying, I don't believe enlightenment is impossible, and when I said I don't believe I'll achieve it, it's more that I'm not focusing on it and don't know what enlightenment means to me yet, all I know is that I'm not there yet, because I'm not at one with my body and mind, and the rest of the world yet. When I get to that point, I won't care about the label or be able to tell you what it feels like, because it will be my own enlightenment that I practiced towards and altered my life for. Also, I'd like to thank you for starting this discussion today. I don't have anyone to talk to about Buddhism in my real life, not anymore anyway. It's already making me reconsider seeking out a master, lol. It's really putting it into perspective that talking about these things really does kind of help both parties, even when I'm the one answering the questions. Otherwise I mostly just write about it and express myself on a piece of paper with a pen. This has been fun and revealing so far.Assuming the purpose of zazen is to "attain" enlightenment/nirvana (enlightenment/nirvana being paraphrased as realization of the oneness of everything) wouldn't we realize that the caffeine, house, car, other drugs, entitlement to a name, etc. are all just a part of it and therefore not negative?
The Sōtō-school has de-emphasized kōans since Gentō Sokuchū (circa 1800), and instead emphasized shikantaza. Dogen, the founder of Soto in Japan, emphasised that practice and awakening cannot be separated. By practicing shikantaza, attainment and Buddhahood are already being expressed. For Dogen, zazen, or shikantaza, is the essence of Buddhist practice.
I don't know if that Soto excerpt makes sense. Shikantaza is defined as being free of thought, right?. The excerpt assumes that all instances of zazen are free of thought (which you and I both know isn't truth. Maybe attaining shikantaza is more so enlightenment? But you're right. When/if we get to that point, the enlightenment label won't mean anything because we'll know it won't mean anything.
I've been thinking a lot about the concept of Enso lately and I think it's applicable here. Enlightenment in this instance is the deconstruction of the idea that the circle is distinct from what's inside and outside of it. Woah. That just hit me. Neat. No, thank you. This has been more beneficial than I could have ever imagined. It is nice to talk to someone about this. It's pretty funny that this whole thing started wondering if Zen masters were necessary and now here you are wanting to seek one out, haha. I don't really have too many people to talk to this about either. There are some who are mildly interested, but still see meditating as a thing of the heathens, even after explaining that it's just sitting and not thinking. I'm going to try to keep responding as quickly as I can, but this term in school is proving to be a stronger opponent that I expected.Not negatives, just distractions at the most
So then are all distractions things to avoid to the same extent as alcohol, caffeine, car, name, etc.?They were things that I could not deal with mentally, so they had to be removed from my life.
Isn't this what the 4th Noble Truth deals with? Dealing with the distractions so that we realize they aren't really distractions?Perhaps the very pursuit and dedication to finding enlightenment IS enlightenment
I believe that this is what Hakuin meant to describe in this painting:
That's part of the rub, is to figure it out for yourself, and what these things all mean, and more importantly mean to you. Zen can only be understood through the practice, so explaining it becomes difficult. Like I said earlier, it's easier to say what it isn't than what it is.
Preach. I love that thought. That no matter how hard people in the past have tried explain enlightenment/Zen, it's never complete either because (like we've said) Zen is no longer Zen when defined or because it is truly a unique personal experience. I've been noticing a more recently moments when I'm more in tune with the oneness. It seems to happen whenever I see a beautiful tree. An indescribable feeling overwhelms me and I get extremely happy and tears begin to well up. I wouldn't call these moments of enlightenment by any means, but it sort of seems that the purpose of zazen is to be in that perpetual state of bliss (to realize this is Nirvana/the Pure Land).
No, as I say in the next part, it depends on the individual. The car/name/job/income/hair stuff comes down more to vanity than dukkha, as those things really don't cause me pain or suffering, but they can be vanity things when taken to an extreme. Vanity is bad because it reinforces the separation of mind and body, and strengthens the ego which Buddhism is trying to help a person shed. They aren't inherently bad, but again, this needs to be determined by the individual. If you own a Ferrari because you simply love driving and the engineering behind it, I'd say that's fine. If you own one simply because it's a Ferrari and you want people to be jealous of you or you think it will help get girls, that's clearly vanity and bad. Caffeine and alcohol are more things that a strict buddhist would stay away from, because they "pollute the body and mind". Some would argue, how can you truly meld your body and mind when your body and mind are influenced by unnatural things you are putting into your body? Again, these are things I like to selectively ignore, because I love coffee and I love my beer and wine. I would say hard drugs, and even pot, are definitely things to remove from your life though. As I stated earlier, pot was definitely something that threw my life off balance both mentally, physically, and emotionally. Although I was successful and lead a good life while being an everyday pot smoker, it certainly got in the way of my focus and dedication to many things, including my practice. It was removed from my life for all of those reasons. Beer and wine, and coffee, don't cause anywhere near that level of disruption in my life, so I kind of let it slide, but mentioned it because I still wonder, and sometimes seek the ideal of being "pure". Besides, many buddhist's drink tea for the same reason I drink coffee. So I give myself a pass there. Yes, the entire stack of the 4 noble truths deals with identifying, understanding, dealing, and removing dukkha. What dukkha is is entirely different to each individual, but can be easily boiled down to "anything causing dissatisfaction in your life, or anything that makes you unhappy." You either get over it, or remove it. It's really your only two options. Whatever it takes to remove that "dissatisfaction" that it causes. I believe the 4 noble truths are easily the pillar of buddhism for anyone starting to learn, and the best thing I ever did in my life was understand dukkha, and take steps to reduce and hopefully eliminate it. Procrastination was also a form of dukkha in my life. The pain and disappointment of pushing off something I need to do, be it at work, or raking the leaves at home. Now I just don't push anything off. If it needs to get done, I do it. Because doing something immediately is a lot more enjoyable than the small pain and suffering of feeling disappointed in yourself for pushing it off til "tomorrow". I did some research, and funny enough, it turns out there is a master in my town who is only two removed from none other than Shunryu Suzuki, who wrote one of my favorite books on the subject, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" (read it if you haven't, good short book on Zen and zazen), and is considered one of the greatest zen masters of the Soto Japanese Zen school. His assistant and pupil who became a master was Dainin Katagiri who established 4 zen centers here in the Twin Cities in the sixties, most of which are closed now, but there is one of them still open, the original. Suzuki and Katagiri are both long passed, but some of his dharma heirs are located right here in the Twin Cities still practicing and teaching at the center he founded decades ago. I'm going to plan on going their early next year. I don't want to start now, because Rohatsu is coming up starting early December, and it's like the most important time of year in the culture, the celebration of Buddha's enlightenment. So I think I'll wait til after December, because the Rohatsu sessions are sun up to sun down meditation sessions that go on for days, and the beginner and introductory open sessions are all closed for awhile. Not a problem. I'm a fairly patient person, and understand school comes first. Conversations like these don't need to be hurried. In fact I prefer the time to reflect. :) Also, I've never seen that painting, but it's beautiful. Thank you for posting that.So then are all distractions things to avoid to the same extent as alcohol, caffeine, car, name, etc.?
Isn't this what the 4th Noble Truth deals with?
you are wanting to seek one out, haha.
'm going to try to keep responding as quickly as I can, but this term in school is proving to be a stronger opponent that I expected.
How often did you smoke though? I smoke every now and again. But when I smoke I make sure that it's in the proper environment with people who will stimulate good conversations. It during a recent smoke session that I experienced oneness the strongest. Sure, I have been able to get a feel like that through meditation, but I wouldn't discount the smoke time as being dukka. I think it moderation does matter. While there have been times when I don't have a breakthrough like that, there are also times in meditation when I don't have any sort of breakthrough. What makes one worse than the other? What if the dissatisfaction can't be removed immediately? Is the 4th Noble Truth about realize that they aren't really dissatisfaction? The example I'm thinking of is my heavy coursework this term. I am unbelievably busy this term, so much so that it's affecting my relationship. Even if I were to change my perspective to view it positively, that wouldn't make my homework go away or give me more time with my girlfriend. Should I not be so attached to a relationship? (I didn't mean for this to become relationship advice with AlderaanDuran, but see what I'm getting at? Did't you just say I like it a lot too. It was by Hakuin, the founder of the Rinzai school. It's meant to represent our journey toward enlightenment. On the far right is the shore of old thinking. On the log are three blind men trying to make their way toward enlightenment (left). But if you'll notice, the log doesn't actually touch enlightenment? Can the blind men jump across the gap or are they never destined to reach enlightenment? Hakuin did do versions of the painting where the log reached enlightenment so I'm not entirely sure if he believed enlightenment is attainable or not.Because doing something immediately is a lot more enjoyable than the small pain and suffering of feeling disappointed in yourself for pushing it off til "tomorrow".
Go see that master now!
When didn't I smoke would be a better question. I smoked morning, noon, and night, and everywhere in between. I was smoking about a quarter a week. I was a functional daily smoker, to the point where I was always a little high. I didn't smoke out of bongs or pipes or joints, normally just a oney, but frequently throughout the day. I was an addict, it was hard to quit and I failed quite a few times before finally kicking the habit. I don't think ocassional use is a problem. I was unhappy with how much I smoked and it started to make me anxious and unhappy. I have nothing against pot use in general, especially infrequent use like you described. Unfortunately I was not able to moderate, at all, and it was a problem. Trust me, it was a problem for me, it was addiction. Weed is not inherently bad, and I still see it as mostly harmless, but I was high all the time and it was affecting my life. With your situation of balancing school and relationship, I can't give any advise here. It's entirely personal to you. The devil is in the details and nuances that I couldn't possibly pretend to have a handle on. I wish you luck in figuring it out, but that balance is up to you. I've had to make some tough choices years ago with my job over relationships. The right person would understand I have to work a lot and that is my life, the wrong person wouldn't understand, and therefore I WOULD put my job above that person because they weren't the right one. My now wife understands my work life, I worked all weekend for example on a big release this weekend, and I'm still on a troubleshooting call working out some of our last issues. She understands, so she makes it worth it, and I have made some changes to my career to be around her more. Again, entirely personal.How often did you smoke though?
What if the dissatisfaction can't be removed immediately?