Question
I find that some sermons during zazen tend to draw us outward, which I do not think is the goal. A sermon, or rather an invitation to reflect on an experience or a thought of Buddha, seems more appropriate to me. I am a little embarrassed to offer my own reflection; I am not a GODO and only recently began zazen.
But I am quite surprised that in some cases a sermon during zazen lasts half an hour, admittedly punctuated by silences, while other GODOS give us only a short reflection, which I prefer.
My question is: should a GODO include experiences from his own life and share them with us during zazen?
Didier
Master Kosen’s answer
It depends. If Shakyamuni tells me about his life, I am interested. If it is a washed-up fellow who has not even clarified his own practice, let him speak only when compassion for the practitioners moves him to do so in order to truly help them.
Kosen