Question
Hello Master, I am very glad you answered and wanted to thank you for your response.
I wanted to ask you something: sometimes I fall asleep and sometimes my mind wanders during
zazen. Yes, I know, in those cases you should use the kyosaku.
But sometimes, even so, I still fall asleep and my mind wanders.
What do you recommend? More kyosaku? Should I press my thumbs together? Go cross-eyed?
Please, Master, be compassionate and tell me how you do it.
With affection, Sergio.
sergio
Answer from Master Kosen
When I was young, I was a little sleepy during morning zazen, until I started drinking Japanese green tea before zazen. Tea is invigorating without making you jittery like coffee, and the problem went away. Otherwise, ask for the kyosaku during practice; it is always very good. Concentrate on your thumbs, tucking in your chin, and keeping your eyes half-open. If they tend to close, keep them open. It is the fatigue of daily life coming out because the body relaxes during zazen, and the fatigue has to leave somehow. Fortunately, I have not had this problem for many years now. I hated falling asleep during zazen. One morning, I had been sewing all night and was falling asleep during zazen, dreaming of my comforter. In his great compassion, the master got up silently and gave me a good strike with the kyosaku. I have never forgotten it!
Kosen