Just Sitting (Zazen): Thoughts & Emotions |
When we sit we have no goals. We simply sit straight and tall, solid and still, like a mountain or like a great tree with deep roots- at one with the good earth. The poet Robert Frost said:
Earth's the right place for love; Buddha sat down on the good earth, under a deeply rooted tree and did not move until he saw the morning star in the eastern sky and was awakened. Earth's the right place for awakening too. I don't know where it's likely to go better. But the physical posture of zazen isn't all there is to just sitting. We know that clouds often come and go around a mountain; that leaves quiver and branches bend in the wind while the tree trunk stands firm. Like this, we know that though we sit straight and tall, solid and still, thoughts do come and go and though outwardly we may look solid and still, inwardly our emotions can leave us shaken, bent, and fragmented. Thoughts do come and go. The important thing is not to invite them in or if they do arrive uninvited not to strike up a conversation with them. If we do not try to hold on to them like some old friend or try to push them away like some old nuisance, they will go as naturally as they come. They are like the wind that comes and goes. It is true that sometimes they may be only a breeze but at other times they may be of hurricane force. If a hurricane comes, we have to just sit out the storm. Along with thoughts, emotions also come and go. In fact, if we are really aware we will notice that it is usually thought that triggers our emotions. Our approach is not to try and hold on to our emotions or try to push them away. But emotions are stickier than thoughts. Even after the thoughts are gone, the emotions seem to stick with us. These emotions may be mild or severe. Sometimes we may experience a storm of emotions. But if we do not add fuel to the fire, they will burn themselves out. Again, we have to just sit out the storm. So when you sit- sit straight and tall, solid and still. Thoughts will come and go. Do not chase after them or try to chase them away. Emotions will come and go. Do not add any fuel to their fire. Just remain awake and alert, fully present. Aware of what is happening right here and now- aware of the whole of it. (Charles Birx, Sensei) |
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