Question
What should we do if almost every time we sit in zazen, we feel muscle contractions in the back, shoulder blades, and so on? Could the somewhat martial, rigid attitude of the posture as taught in Zen be the cause? And pain—no one talks about pain, yet it is there. Even when we observe it, it fills the whole landscape, and concentration is out of the question, at least for me. Thank you in advance for your help.
Philippe Dollé
Master Kosen’s answer
Our relationship with the body and pain is fundamental in Zen. Why pain? Because the body is pain, whether in pleasure or suffering. It is not about trying to eliminate bodily sensations but cultivating a different relationship with them. Sensations are interpreted by the mind, and everything comes from mind.
Kosen