Question

"Thus what is contradictory is that we say it is necessary to abandon the ego. Yes, but if you sit down on a chair in order not to feel pain and you are doing zazen with your ego on the chair, it will all come down to nothing, because it is necessary to abandon the ego to find your true nature." I resume this question already asked on the fact of knowing that it is necessary to have a practice in a seated posture or in lotus. As for me, I cannot simply do lotus. I understand well the idea of abandoning the ego, but do we have to mortify ourselves? I notice for example that Japanese are used to staying on their knees all day long. This is a custom practised for generations. It is not the case for the Europeans. And certainly not mine! Then, do I have to continue practising in a seated way? If I do lotus, well... I cannot. So should I continue like that?

Answer from Master Kosen

Take the posture gradually.

Mondo On the same theme : Zazen

Who realizes?

Not an easy task to find the right words. If there is nobody to experiment nor observe, who realizes? Not the individual. Or at least, not individual consciousness, since it itself disappears. Sorry not to be able to state my meaning more clearly. Thanks for your presence.
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The hands during zazen

Hello, i have a problem with my hands. They dont stay still, and fingers and thumbs move, plus i feel kind of pain (like when you hold your arm up in the air for some time), in both my hands and arms. these are my problems, they dont happen all at once but they happen in general, so all in all i cant remain still. It is not fidgeting, they move ...

The hands during zazen 2

Hello, thank you very much for your reply aboutmy inquiry about posture(hands).You've helped me a lot. I just have one more question that isbugging me, it might be silly but it really wont give me peace.One indian mystic, Osho, (supppousedly enligthenment) although i dont knowwhat path he used, said that enlightenment is possible only at night ...

Zazen

What do i bring to peoples life with my zazen daily practice? I'm i helping other beings when i sit down in zazen posture?
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breathing

My Zen teacher, a former student of Master Deshimuru, tells me to have long slow exhalations and short quick inhalations, but I have read other zazen "manuals", inluding one by Temple Antaiji, that you should just let the breath be natural. What is the difference between letting the breath be as it is and forcing the breath to breath long ...

Breathing.

My Zen teacher, a former student of Master Deshimuru, tells me to have long slow exhalations and short quick inhalations, but I have read other zazen "manuals", inluding one by Temple Antaiji, that you should just let the breath be natural. What is the difference between letting the breath be as it is and forcing the breath to breath long ...


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