Question
Hello, here is the question in brief. There are really two:
1/ The sixth patriarch says: “Sitting is a disease, but it is not Zen.” How is this to be understood if the basis of Zen today is precisely the zazen posture??
2/ They say that “perfect, unsurpassable awakening” (satori, enlightenment, etc.) is sudden and has no levels of development; otherwise it would never be attained. How, then, can we speak of the evolution and perfection of Zen through practice??
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
Have you spoken with the sixth patriarch?
We do not speak of the evolution and perfection of Zen through practice. But it is clear that if you repeat the practice of zazen, zazen becomes more intimate and concentration more direct. That is obvious. What is also obvious is that you do not practice it, you read about it. Sit down, man, and let go of categories.
Kosen