To Our Dear Sangha

It is blistering hot in Japan these days. It is also the season to eat watermelon and see fireworks. But sometimes it feels so hot that all one can do is sit. Good for zazen? 😉 

In this newsletter, Matsumoto-san briefly explains his reasons for starting zazenkai and the conditions required for satori. I remember the days when his zazenkai were on site in Tokyo, and am grateful he has continued online. We hope you’ll join us for a sit soon♪

Announcements

Upcoming Online Zazenkai Schedule (Japan time)

Zazenkai with Matsumoto-san:
August 3 (Sun) 18:00-22:00
August 25 (Mon) 8:00a.m.-12:00
September 7 (Sun) 18:00-22:00
September 29 (Mon) 8:00a.m.-12:00

**Sunday times are generally more convenient for Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Monday times are generally more convenient for N/S America (where it is Sunday) and Oceania.

Wednesday Zazenkai with Madoka:
Every Wednesday at 9:00pm-10:00pm Japan time.  Anyone is welcome!

Zazenkai reservations can be made here:  
https://www.zen-online.info/reservations

Very Useful Time Converter to calculate zazenkai in your local time
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

(Translated by Madoka)

Why I started offering zazenkai

About 15 years ago, I had two reasons for starting zazenkai in Tokyo. The first reason was that after practicing zazen myself, satori happened, so I know that satori is not difficult. The second reason was that I wanted to provide a place for people to sit.

The conditions for satori are:

1. To know what Zen is and for your zazen to truly be zazen

2.  To make time to do zazen and actually sit.

3.  To know how to go about everyday life so that it is also Zen practice.

When you sit, do you know if your zazen is truly zazen? If you aren’t sure, it’s possible that you might inadvertently be doing something else.

Zen is what is actually real itself, so zazen is sitting as what is actually real is.
What is actually real is the actual way it is when facing forward.
When there’s bow wow, it’s bow wow.
When there’s “I’m hungry,” it’s “I’m hungry.”
When there’s “hello,” it’s “hello.”
When drinking coffee, it is the taste of coffee itself.
This is how it is.
● is precisely the way ● is.

When zazen is truly zazen, all you need to do is make time in your schedule and sit. When you can sit for a long time, sit for a long time. At work or elsewhere, if you have even 3 or 15 minutes between tasks, for example, sit. You can sit on airplanes and trains. You can sit at your office.

What about practice in everyday life outside of sitting time? Zen is what is actually real itself, so if someone says “good morning,” it is “good morning.” When drinking coffee, it is the actual taste of coffee. If you think, “Tomorrow, I need to check my e-mails at 8:00,” then it is, “Tomorrow, I need to check my e-mails at 8:00.”
In this way, the way it is in daily life is fine as it is.

Satori is when what is real becomes clear as itself, so satori does not necessarily happen while sitting. One person’s satori happened while talking with family. 

Satori is when what is actually real reveals itself as itself, without any “me” present. What is actually real itself is itself, and there is no gain or loss, good or bad, or any other evaluations attached. It is not someone’s idea or a product of thinking. When facing forward, it is precisely the way it is facing forward. That’s why it is called “the Law” or “the Way.” 

In life, it is necessary to be able to judge whether something is a gain or a loss, or whether something is good or bad. But our true nature has nothing to do with gain and loss or good and bad. There is a way in which there is no space for conflict—it is here, now.

I hope you will make time in your schedule to sit and become clear for yourself that the truth of oneself = what is actually real itself.

In Japan now, it is a very hot summer season. I hear that there are heat waves in other parts of the world as well. Please be safe and remember to take good care of yourself.

A moment of clarity after thinking in circles

I was sitting at my little table, trying to think of something helpful to write for this newsletter.

With various political difficulties, wars, and other conflicts going on around the world, I was wondering if we should comment in some way, because when things go haywire, some people turn to spiritual or religious leaders for guidance. I talked to Matsumoto-san about this, and I remembered our role here. It is to help people become clear on Truth (not to propagate a way of thinking).

One of the reasons I became interested in knowing Truth was because I had heard that the fundamental cause of conflict is ignorance of Truth. I wanted to know the solution to conflict and bring peace to the world.

As I practice zazen, I am actually losing hope for the prospect of an end to war. The Buddha did not stop all the wars in his time, so I am not sure why I thought I might be able to bring about world peace (okay, maybe an inflated sense of self-importance). But I used to think that if I awakened to Truth, then I would at least know what is truly right or wrong, compassionate or small-minded, and be able to provide some guidance about that.

Upon beginning zazen with Matsumoto-san and Kando Roshi, it became clear to me that the “Truth” I am seeking is not a concept, so there is no right or wrong, compassion or small-mindedness attached to it. This means contemplating right and wrong doesn’t help, as far as satori is concerned. So would it then be a disservice to share our opinions about different events in the world, when that is not going to help you realize Truth? Or when it could alienate people with different opinions?

I lay down next to my window, closed my eyes, and started thinking in circles about what to write, why I practice, war and peace, what to write, truth vs reality, what is our role in the scheme of things, what to write…and then opened my eyes to this:

Ah, the difference between concept and what is real…

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Love and Gassho _/\_