Question
Hello, Bárbara,
My question concerns thought, which I understand must give way to allow an appropriate state of meditation (insofar as anything can be called appropriate). Now, if my thoughts must be set aside… what about zazen itself? In other words, how can I not think if, in order to practice zazen, I must first think about it and reconsider it as the path to follow? I say I must reconsider it because, if I am following this path, I had to choose it beforehand. But if I do not think, I do not understand. And finally, how can I recognize zazen as the path to follow if I do not reflect inwardly on it?
Gerardo
Answer from Master Kosen
Hello, Gerardo:
Thank you for your question. You are absolutely right, although you express it in a somewhat confusing way. In the “Hotsu Bodaishin” chapter of the Shobogenzo, Master Dogen explains that the Mind of Awakening is born from “citta,” the mind that thinks. Of course, when we decide to go and practice zazen, we think about it first, and when we get up in the morning to go to the dojo, we think about that too. But then, when we do zazen, we let thoughts pass and gradually allow intuitive wisdom to develop.
Of course, when this intuition expresses itself, it can use words, thoughts, a sound, a grimace, a shout, and so on… But zazen is not introspection about what we think; it is observing whether we are thinking or not, whether we are upright or not, whether we are exhaling deeply or not. The mind loses its importance.
Have a good zazen,
Kosen