Buddha Speaks – Song of Zazen

One of the concepts that is difficult for the western mind to grasp in Zen Buddhism, is the concept of “zazen”.  Zazen is not meditation, however, it is the opening of the body, mind, and spirit to thought or to insights about why we are here.

Picture of Zazen in Rinzai school comes from Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Issho Fujita describes the  objective of zazen is just to sit in kekka-fuza correctly—there is absolutely nothing to add to it.  Kekka-fuza is Japanese for the “Lotus Position” of sitting.  I believe this why so many people think zazen is meditation – because the recommended position for sitting is the same. 

The poem below by Hakuin Ekaku quite simply describes what one may experience when sitting in zazen.  

Try sitting in zazen some day, simply sitting, without any objectives or even any attachment to the idea of zazen, and see what comes up.  You may write your own poem of life.

HAKUIN ZENJI - SONG OF ZAZEN

Dharma poem by Hakuin Ekaku [1685-1768]

All beings by nature are Buddha,
as ice by nature is water;
apart from water there is no ice,
apart from beings no Buddha.
How sad that people ignore the near
and search for truth afar,
like someone in the midst of water
crying out in thirst,
like a child of a wealthy home
wandering among the poor.
Lost on dark paths of ignorance
we wander through the six worlds,
from dark path to dark path we wander,
when shall we be freed from birth and death?
For this the zazen of the Mahayana
deserves the highest praise:
offerings, precepts, paramitas,
Nembutsu, atonement, training--
the many other virtues--
all rise within zazen.
Even those with proud attainments
wipe away immeasurable crimes--
where are all the dark paths then?
the Pure Land itself is not far.
Those who hear this truth even once
and listen with a grateful heart,
treasuring it, revering it,
gain blessings without end.
Much more, if you dedicate yourself
and confirm your own self-nature--
that self-nature is no nature--
you are far beyond mere argument.
The oneness of cause and effect is clear,
not two, not three, the path is put right;
with form that is no form
going and coming--never astray,
with thought that is no thought
singing and dancing are the voice of the Law.
Boundless and free is the sky of Samadhi,
bright the full moon of wisdom,
truly is anything missing now?
Nirvana is here, before your eyes,
this very place is the Lotus Land,
this very body the Buddha.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com     See www.angelsandancestors.com and www.legionsofmichael.com  See our upcoming events
Monday, March 15 2010 7:30pm New Moon Meditation is focusing on healing one’s self of worry since worry causes blocks to moving forward. The Norse Goddess, Idun, will guide us this evening. She is the Goddess of the spring, eternal youth and the keeper of the golden apples. Energy exchange - $10.00, register with Judy at 403-225-2016 Calgary AB

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