Meaning of Zazen

[dirosaga]

i would not want to ever be stranded on a desert island for years, but if i was, i think that Zazen in Zen buddhism would be one of the greatest ways to keep me sane. maybe it would teach me to enjoy the island and what i am living in, rather than always focusing on what i could have, or what is out there.

[osvaldo170656]

antonio I totally agree with you.

[Zarat818]

beautiful. I want to start practicing 2 times a day. 

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

il est temps qu'il ouvre les yeux le vieux !...mrd on me dit qu'il est mort...aveugle donc !

[beardfreak1969]

thank-you

[santosbl01]

Thank you for sharing this wisdom.

[bagabonde]

No we haven't it because,most of us and me as the first, i want to keep struggling... If we want to do it, we are ready to see pascal robert as a true master !!! as a a reincarnation of Padma Rinpoche. I see him so ! What about you ?

[yidaki53]

What are you talking about... Hmm. Anyway, this is Gudo Nishijima, and he isn't any one particular individual re-incarnated. :) Just a very accustomed practitioner from which we can gain wisdom.

[akvavitten]

well.. there we have it.

[attilaclark]

I've watched two of your lectures. Thank you for explaining so well in English. I will pass your teachings on to others here. Agian thank you. Attila

[firebirdgao]

je comprends rien mais effectivement c'est la meilleure vidéo sur you tube!!

sinon zazen a marseille c'est au 50 rue du coq

[fabsuk2000]

I think this is actually the best video on youtube. Thank you

[EtherealTransistor]

Agreed

[damnzenman]

Ichi Wa Zen, Zen Wa Ichi.

[sidhaguru]

he likes to get pissed he does

[manensol]

Master Nishijima's discussion of the nervous systems is very relevant to what I have experienced in mediation and how I have become more balanced because of it.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[monomist]

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.

[manensol]

Thank you for writing the dialogue out.

[hceggeberth]

Gudo says: "Before Buddhism there was, er, various training called Yoga" - NOT "...a dangerous training called Yoga." (lol!)

Of that I'm pretty sure.

Otherwise, I think your transcription is spot on. Many thanks for doing it.

[closetome]

Beautiful. Really enjoyed this! Very clear and simple! Thank you.

[juaxix]

His fingers are not in line. Maybe he is altered or nervous.

When you sit in zazen, you have to be conscious of your own position, one of the points are the hands, and spetially the fingers he has up right in this video...

it can reveal the position of his spirit at the moment of the recording...

[PretLetters]

The man is like 90 years old or so. My bet is, it is rumatism that keeps him from shaping the hands 'properly'.

[DonkeyofHeaven]

His fingers look perfectly alligned to me. Please note it is the camera that is tilted, not the man.

[hceggeberth]

Hi juaxix - you say (albeit 2 years ago!):

"His fingers are not in line. Maybe he is altered or nervous. When you sit in zazen..."

He's talking, not practicing zazen.

[sting6584]

Thank You for instructions

[kinglugonn]

Stilte en Zijn

Mooi

Thanx

[takezo1977]

Thx

Gasho

[biodumb]

It's a shame but i can't understand almost anything...maybe someone could subtitle this

[santiagueri]

Beautiful, thank you so much.

[Mindfu11ness]

Thank you for posting this. Very good.

[mayasem]

This is great!! The man has more discipline than most people in the West!

[PedroGron77]

Thanks for posting this.

Peter

[gropro]

"He is not living in a mother, he is not living in an idea, he is living in reality. Buddhism is reality philosophy." Brillant

[mrytb]

"MATTER"... not Mother

[taumm]

Good!