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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 41

Zendo after 2016 Expansion

meditation and Zen writings, and actually emphasized that zazen From the point of view of Zen,
because the Zen approach to radical is not meditation practice! We’re reality cannot be grasped. That’s
nonduality was the only thing that meant to let go even of trying to the nature of reality – it’s an endless
made sense to me. That is: Ultimately make anything special happen in unfolding of causes and conditions.
nirvāṇa is not separate from our sitting. Any time we think, “Oh, now I see
saṃsāra, it’s only our own minds reality!” we are wrong a millisecond
which create the problem. It’s likely Shakyamuni Buddha later. Ultimately, reality is empty
himself wouldn’t even recognize of anything that can be grasped, or
The word Zen itself is derived zazen as Buddhist meditation! anything we identify as inherently
from the Sanskrit word Dhyāna However, the essence of Buddhism existing, independent, or enduring.
for meditation. How is meditation is that we test teachings and This is also true of our self.
in Zen different from Vipassanā, practices for ourselves. If they
which is the other popular form follow the moral precepts and lead Anything we perceive as a human
of meditation? to freedom from suffering, and to being will be limited by our bodies

greater wisdom and compassion, and minds, so even if there was some
I don’t do Vipassanā meditation, so then they are legitimate. I ultimate “Reality” to be observed,
I hesitate to say too much about it. personally believe zazen is like we couldn’t claim to have perceived
However, my best explanation of another pathway up the same it “directly.” However, that’s not a
the difference between Vipassanā mountain, and that mountain is problem. We can observe our own
and Zen meditation, or zazen – samādhi, or calm state of nondual direct experience, and thereby
specifically my Sōtō Zen school’s experience. Vipassanā involves awaken to the empty or boundless
form of zazen, referred to as discipling the mind until it becomes nature of reality, including self. This
silent illumination, shikantaza, or calm and concentrated, while zazen is profoundly liberating, because it
“just sitting” – is that Vipassanā involves allowing the mind to settle relieves us of the preoccupation of “I,
is systematic exploration of like a pool of water. When it comes me, and mine” that drives so much of
the Dharma using the power of to what you might call meditative our suffering.
concentration, while zazen is concentration, I think the results are
diligently letting go of everything ultimately the same. To awaken to reality, we need to let
except sitting in an upright posture, go of the mental map we’ve created
thereby allowing our true nature to Zen, like all schools of Buddhism, of it. Usually, we aren’t perceiving
manifest. One of our most famous is about understanding reality. So openly, we’re perceiving through
ancestors, Zen master Dōgen, what is reality in Zen Buddhism? the filter and preconceptions of

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