Question
Hello,
First, I will introduce myself so you understand why I am asking
my question:
For several years, I have practiced three Japanese martial arts
every day (and even several times a day on some weekdays), in
addition to my regular job. At home, I try to reproduce as often as possible
the “meditations”/mokuso we do briefly
before each bow in karate class. I did zazen once, ten
years ago, in a SOTO Zen dojo (but I think I was too young
at the time). I read some Zen books (mainly Master Deshimaru)
to try to find support for this individual practice at home,
these mokuso/“meditations” I do (of course, for
longer than the overly brief ones before and after martial arts
training). I try to make sure half an hour spent reading about
Zen is matched by at least the same amount of time practicing mokuso, so as not
to fall into the trap of literary idealization without practical
experience.
Do you think this approach is viable? Or do you think it is
essential that sooner or later I walk into a real dojo
or zazen sesshin to deepen this practice and check whether my
individual, almost daily practice is correct and consistent with
the approach of zazen? For example, the need to share this in a group, etc…
(The “mokuso” we do in class is in seiza,
and our thumbs do not always touch; often we place a palm
on each knee… to mention a few formal details that
probably mark a slight difference from zazen.)
Thank you in advance.
P.S. I think it would interest me, and not just from a historical
perspective, to know whether the mokuso practiced in martial arts
today really comes from Zen practice or from a
”related” system…
P.P.S. The music on some pages of your site is very nice. The music on
the “Master Kosen” page is really pleasant. I am desperately looking for the
singer’s name, being the musical ignoramus I am…
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
Yes, experience practicing in a zazen dojo to get a real sense of the matter.
Kosen