Meaning of Zazen

	Duration: 07:52 minutes Upload Time: 07-02-15 22:20:36 User: dogensangha :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day
Description: Gudo Nishijima, an 80+ year old Japanese Zen master talks about the meaning of practicing zazen.
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monomist ::: Favorites And in the balanced autonomic nervous system, we can throw away miscellaneous considerations. We can throw away miscellaneous painful conditions. We are just sitting. We are enjoying sitting. We are enjoying quietness. We can enjoy natural conditions. We can enjoy reality. We can enjoy our life. That is the meaning of the practice of zazen. 07-08-16 17:07:46 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites And to get rid of body and mind was very difficult to understand before the 20th century. But just in the 20th century, because of so enormous development of scientific knowledge, we can notice what's the meaning of zazen from the viewpoint of science. Therefore, practice of zazen is to keep the spine straight vertically, and keeping the spine straight vertically, our autonomic nervous systems become balanced. 07-08-16 16:20:19 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites And when sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system are equal, our consciousness of mind vanishes. And our physical consciousness vanishes. We are just sitting. We are just acting. And such situation is called "dropping body and mind off." These words comes from Master Dogen's Shobogenzo. 07-08-16 16:19:35 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites And when sympathetic nervous systems are stronger, we are prone to be spiritual. When parasympathetic nervous systems are stronger, we are prone to be materialistic. Therefore, according to Buddhist theory, we should make the two autonomic nervous systems -- that is, sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system -- equal. 07-08-16 16:18:53 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites In the 20th century, the modern psychology and modern physiology have developed so much. And relying upon such scientific knowledge, we can notice why we practice zazen to study Buddhism. According to the modern physiology, there is the nervous system which is called the autonomic nervous system, and the autonomic nervous systems are two parts -- the one is sympathetic nervous system, the other is parasympathetic nervous system. 07-08-16 16:17:40 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites The time of zazen is not necessary to be so long, but to practice zazen frequently is very important, because since the 20th century, we can find the scientific reason to practice zazen. 07-08-16 16:05:42 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites So, relying upon such theory, we practice zazen everyday. So, it is necessary for us to practice zazen everyday -- two times a day, at least. Master Dogen recommended us, four times practice of zazen a day. But in the modern ages, we have to work for some jobs during day time. Therefore, at least in the morning and in the evening, we should practice zazen everyday. 07-08-16 16:05:07 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites And such truth is the basis of Buddhism. Therefore, we can think that Buddhism is just realistic philosophy. And to study such realistic philosophy, we practice zazen. Therefore, without practicing zazen, there is no Buddhism. When we practice zazen, we can become Buddha himself at once. This is Gautama Buddha's teachings and Master Dogen's teachings, who was Japanese Buddist master in the 13th century. 07-08-16 16:03:28 __________________________________________________
monomist ::: Favorites Before Buddhism, there was a dangerous training called Yoga. And among many postures in Yoga, what is the best was the posture which we practice in zazen. Therefore, Gautama Buddha selected the best posture among many postures in Yoga, and he practiced zazen everyday. And one day in the morning, when he looked at the the Venus in the eastern sky, he noticed that he was living in reality, he was not living in idea, he was not living in matter, he was just living in reality. 07-08-16 16:03:05 __________________________________________________
PretLetters ::: Favorites The man is like 90 years old or so. My bet is, it is rumatism that keeps him from shaping the hands 'properly'. 07-07-15 13:52:00 __________________________________________________