Question
Hello, Mr. Kosen,
This may be a strange question, but after all, there are no stupid questions… So here it is: Can you do too much zazen? I mean, if someone did zazen three or four times a day (an hour each time)—which I don’t, but sometimes I feel like practicing more to see what would happen—wouldn’t that be a kind of escape from reality and daily life? And wouldn’t it run counter to right practice? In short, is it inadvisable, and wouldn’t a more moderate practice be better? Thank you for opening this correspondence mondo.
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
It is very difficult to say what is too much or not too much when it comes to zazen. Medically, according to Chinese Taoist masters, three and a half hours a day are physiologically sufficient. But some Zen masters still sit for seven consecutive days without moving or getting up. It also depends entirely on the level and dimension of your practice…
Kosen