This is Zen

2022-04-01

: Zen isn't something you learn

By Kenichi Matsumoto, translated by Madoka. Knowing what is real doesn’t come from learning. Zen Master Dogen says that zazen is not shuuzen—a practice of understanding a method and then executing it. He says it is not a method that you become able to do after learning it and then mastering it through repeated practice Then what is it? What is it that is not learned? Let’s confirm right now—what is it that is actually real, but not learned. Please put the palm of your hand on your cheek (actually do this as you read). How is it now? With ...

: What’s really happening

Someone says to you, “you’re so unattractive.” The fact is, after hearing the words, “you’re so unattractive,” the words no longer exist. This means they are not a problem. Cognitive functions make it feel like they are a problem. If cognition creates the understanding that, “they said I was unattractive,” it feels as if a condition of having been told that one is unattractive actually exists. But no matter where one looks, no such fact exists. To try to do something about it is trying to handle something that does not exist. It’s the same with words one might say ...

: Form is Emptiness, and Emptiness is Form

If you try to understand this part of the Heart Sutra, “form is emptiness, and emptiness is form,” you might feel like you kind of get it, but kind of don’t. Or you may find it difficult to understand at all. This happens when one doesn’t yet know the reality of the way things are in actual fact. Let’s take a look at the actual fact of the way things are. Please try this. Turn your face to the right, and then slowly turn to the left, and confirm how things are. Turn right, and the fact of the way ...

: Emptiness

The True Meaning of "Emptiness” The word “emptiness” appears in the Heart Sutra, but it does not mean that there is something empty, or a state of emptiness. If that is what it meant, there would be something that exists that is empty, and that would not be true emptiness. What is the true meaning of “emptiness”? When eyes are closed, it is just the way it is with eyes closed, and when eyes are opened, it is just the way it is with eyes open. It is free activity, becoming anything and everything, never stopping. A cat meows. And ...

: What is Zen?

Zen is not an ideology, philosophy, Eastern culture, conceptual paradigm, or belief. “Zen” is the name given to the way things certainly are now, without self, without center, without intent. What is meant by “the way things certainly are now”? When there is “meow,” then “meow” is the way things certainly are. This is the way it is. No belief is required for “meow.” Conviction and understanding are also unnecessary. Meow So zazen (sitting Zen) is simply sitting, the way things certainly are now. When there is “meow,” there is “meow.” This is Zen. So zazen is not about using ...

What’s really happening

Zen isn't something you learn