Bill, Zazen seems to be a better word to imply 'clear mind'. 'Za' is sit in Japanese, which also has a Chinese origin. The addition of 'zen' will prevent you from a straying mind. Anthony
--- On Mon, 11/4/11, Bill! <billsm...@hhs1963.org> wrote: From: Bill! <billsm...@hhs1963.org> Subject: [Zen] Re: Buddhist meditation practices To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, 11 April, 2011, 9:30 AM Anthony, Thank you for your language lesson. For me and in the context of zen 'shikantaza' will always mean 'clear mind'. The English phrase 'just sit' will also always mean 'clear mind'. In fact the word 'zen' for means means 'clear mind', so when I say 'zazen' I mean 'sit zen' or 'sit clear mind' - which is for me 'shikantaza' I wouldn't think anyone associated with zen would think that this included daydreaming or thinking about anything at all. Having said all that I have heard the term 'zazen' to also describe sitting and working on koans. For me that's not truely zazen. That's focused meditation and is a teaching technique used as a precursor to zazen (clear mind). Oh well, such is the tangled web of words...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > Bill, >  > You say, 'I was taught that 'shikantaza' means 'just sit' - nothing else.' >  > It is 100% correct. If you 'just sit', you can do day dreaming, or think > about your girl friend.  There is no definite connection between shikantaza > and clear mind. >  > Google quotes some Japanese sources that have shikantaza imply clear mind. I > thought about that, and concluded that the word is foreign to Japanese, so > they unwittingly added additional meanings to it. However, the original > Chinese word means only 'just sit' and nothing else. It is colloquial. When > you ask a 10 year old Chinese boy to do shikantaza, he will immediately sit > cross-legged in front of you. You cannot see his mind anyway. >  > The better way is to say 'shikantaza with clear mind'. >  > Anthony > > --- On Sun, 10/4/11, Bill! <BillSmart@...> wrote: > > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > Subject: [Zen] Re: Buddhist meditation practices > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Sunday, 10 April, 2011, 8:31 AM > > >  > > > > Anthony, > > I was taught that 'shikantaza' means 'just sit' - nothing else. How could > there be some kind of shikantaza that WASN'T 'clear mind'? If your mind was > not clear, if you were thinking about something, it wouldn't be shikantaza. > > That is the way I use this word 'shikantaza' anyway. If you could suggest a > better word please do... > > ...Bill! > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > Bill, > >  > > Correction: > >  > > Anything else like counting or following the breath or koans are only > > teaching techniques to get you to shikantaza with clear mind. > >  > > Anthony > > > > --- On Sun, 10/4/11, Bill! <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > Subject: [Zen] Re: Buddhist meditation practices > > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Sunday, 10 April, 2011, 12:05 AM > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > ED, > > > > In my opinion shikantaza is zazen. Anything else like counting or following > > the breath or koans are only teaching techniques to get you to shikantaza. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "ED" <seacrofter001@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Bill, > > > > > > The list, author unknown is to be found in the source below. > > > > > > Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation > > > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation> > > > > > > Shikantaza is an awareness practice, whereas zazen involves both > > > concentration meditation (breath-counting for instance) and shikantaza, > > > in varying extents. > > > > > > --ED > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > > > > ED, > > > > > > > > Under the ZEN BUDDHIST MEDITATION PRACTICES what do you think whomever > > > made up this list (you?) thinks is the difference between 'zazen' and > > > 'shikantaza'? > > > > > > > > Thanks...Bill! > > > > > > > > > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "ED" seacrofter001@ wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation > > > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_meditation> > > > > > >
