I actually did(tried) it.
I never expected anything so literate and evident instructions to practice zazen. This thought turned out to be a very stupid one. It’s, in my opinion, same as singing. There are so many ways to practice singing. Let’s just assume there is an ultimate way to be a “great singer”. Even though the concept of being a “great singer” is vague, the way to practice singing does not have to be ambiguous.
I found this (very easily) video clip on YouTube. It tells you what and how to practice.
Me and my friend , Seo, watched the clip and tried it.
The Full lotus posture was too extreme for me so I did the least painful and most comforting position.
After 20 minutes or so of meditating (Too short? So what, According to Dogen, just for what I did, I am already a Buddha!!!!And I am not (I guess I am) a gradualist. If there is such thing as enlightenment, I believe in sudden and unexpected one ) me and my friend talked about how it felt.
I started breath as comfortably as I could. Then Though about “empty mind”. I was thinking maybe if I try really hard (although Dogen said not to) not to think of anything except my determination of clearing my mind. I believed it would eventually clear my mind and leave nothing but my determination. Not so surprisingly, I got intercepted once by sound of Seo’s breathing in the middle of meditation. We talked for about 20 seconds and tried to focus one more time. It went through well. I do not know if it went through well but I’m sure of the fact that I put all of my concentration on something that is introvert.
Although I attempt was no to think of anything, I thought of number of thoughts. And the thoughts connected automatically. This was definitely not under my control. Or free will or whatever.
“Oh, it’s not easy just to sit. Wait a minitue. It actually hurts a little. Oh it’s actually my back where it hurts. Lower back. Yes. That’s right. It’s where I got hurt when I was 2nd grade of middle school. It’s not my unevenly formed butt, is it? It probably is. I’ve seen it on Discovery Channel……….Oh shoot. I shouldn’t think of anything…………………Man, it’s pretty chilly in here……Oh shoot! Focus ”
That’s pretty much I thought of.
As I have said, I think I am a gradualist. I do not think this well get me anywhere close to be enlightened. From this aspect, I like how Dogen talked about resisting the temptation of enlightenment, you can become a Buddha. I think Dogen made his teaching somewhat rhetorical method in order to be mysterious. Maybe or maybe not. After all, it’s my idea.
