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Shikantaza Quotes

Browse 4 quotes about Shikantaza.

Shikantaza Quotes

“If he hadn’t become a Buddhist monk, Sawaki Roshi would have been successful in a worldly sense in business, politics, or the military. Instead, he devoted his life to wholeheartedly practicing Dogen Zenji’s just sitting, or shikantaza, which according to him was good for nothing. For him, social climbing in pursuit of fame and profit was meaningless. The Japanese expression for “waste” is bonifuru, which means “sacrifice,” “lose all,” or “ruin.” So when we say he wasted his life, we use the expression in a paradoxical way—like saying that zazen is good for nothing.”

MeditationZen BuddhismZazenContemplative PrayerShikantaza
Book:The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo
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“Although I have defined just sitting as the single greatest thoroughfare in Zen for students at every level, it would be very difficult, especially for the beginner, to reach enlightenment through its practice without great perseverance and stamina. If a person using just sitting really breaks through, chances are that they will achieve a great seeing into their own nature without leaving even a trace of delusion. Nevertheless, for anyone other than the great Zen figures of the past, who had unremitting zeal, it is very hard to reach enlightenment through just sitting alone. This is particularly so for modern Zen practitioners who may not possess the intrepid spirit of the ancients.”

ShikantazaJust Sitting
Book:Zen: The Authentic Gate
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“Just sitting” is the English translation of the Japanese word shikantaza. Shikan means “only” or “just.” The za of taza means “to sit,” and the syllable ta is a verbal intensifier. Whereas both counting the breath and following the breath use the breath as their point of focus, just sitting consists of just the sitting itself. In this sense, it is the purest form of meditation, the original meditation practiced by the buddhas and Zen ancestors. If you are sitting to penetrate the innermost recesses of yourself, just sitting is the ideal form of meditation. Dōgen Zenji broke through to complete enlightenment when practicing just sitting.”

ShikantazaJust Sitting
Book:Zen: The Authentic Gate
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“Our Soto way puts an emphasis on shikan taza, or "just sitting." Actually we do not have any particular name for our practice; when we practice zazen we just practice it, and whether we find joy in our practice or not, we just do it. Even though we are sleepy, and we are tired of practicing zazen, of repeating the same thing day after day; even so, we continue our practice. Whether or not someone encourages our practice, we just do it.”

Shikantaza
Book:Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
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