What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
score:8
Supposedly it is used to help meditator fight drowsiness. It is said that drowsiness comes from stiffness, from meditator trying to artificially restrict their micro-movements and to severely narrow their scope of attention. While right concentration is said to feel open and flexible, with body actively balancing in meditation posture and attention wide open (but not engaged nor scattered). When supervising monk sees somebody nodding, he reminds meditator of the need to expand their awareness, by gently "massaging" the shoulder with the stick :)
Upvote:2
It's a remedy for sleepiness. Nothing special. It's a little pat on the back to keep you awake.
Upvote:5
During a weekend retreat I attended at a Zen monastery, the explanation I heard was that the sensation provides a point of focus for meditation. At this monastery (or at least at this retreat, which was for beginners), receiving a hit from the wand was voluntary; I don't think they used it to wake up participants.
Other sources (including other answers to this question) have suggested that waking up a dozing meditator is another use.
More post
- π Can someone give references of the four stages of enlightenment in the four major Nikayas?
- π Annoyed by nasal congestion and hyper-salivation during meditation?
- π What are the sets of things in SN 1.44?
- π The actualization of Anatta
- π Is ignorance/unawareness Dukkha?
- π Beginner: Should I switch to a less advanced samatha practice?
- π Is OM MA NI PADME HUM flag useful?
- π Could anyone explain: (1) What are the advantages of practicing Guru Yoga? (2) Why (or What are the reasons) practicing Guru Yoga has such advantages?
- π Does Western Philosophy Have Conceptual Overlaps with Buddhism?
- π What are the cause(s) of a biased or sticky mind?
- π What is Vibhava Tanha?
- π Is it even possible to attain Nirvana?
- π What does "joy" mean in the phrase "dharma gate of great ease and joy"
- π How does 'Om Mani Padme Hum' protect us from danger?
- π How does rebirth fit with the fact that everything is impermanent?
- π Why does the Buddha always answer a question if asked three times?
- π What was the 1st attempt to have a Theravada monastery in the West?
- π How do I focus from the distraction of people who look attractive?
- π Does using or watching YouTube break a bhikkhu's rules?
- π What is prajna?
- π The Oldest Traditional Buddhist Lineage?
- π Can the energy generated through meditation neutralize the covid 19 corona virus?
- π Is there any benefit in learning Pali or Sanskrit?
- π What is the difference between a Vipassana Jhana and a Samatha Jhana?
- π Buddhist Therapists?
- π Questions from 21-st century's Milinda
- π how to deal with dogmatic people
- π Is there any research on physiology of deep and long meditative states (i.e. days and weeks of sitting)?
- π Were there earlier western monks before Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya (Charles Henry Allan Bennett)
- π Sutta jhana vs. Visuddhimagga jhana
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
- π What is the deep sound that buddhist monk make during meditation called
- π What is the next meditation type after Mindfulness of Breathing meditation?
- π What is the meaning and/or purpose of life?
- π What is the purpose of not eating after noon?
- π What is the life of a monk really like?
- π What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
- π What is the minimum amount of time needed for a productive meditation sit?
- π What is the name in PΔli and Sanskrit for the βbody scanningβ meditation technique?
- π What is the purpose of the Mahayana 'emptiness' doctrine?
- π If Buddhas don't feel bliss, what is the purpose of attaining nirvana?
- π What is the origin and purpose of the alms bowl used by monastics?
- π What are the main differences between the different Zen schools?
- π Past life memories: what is the purpose of those memories?
- π What is the purpose of the 5th precept?
- π What are the consequences of a monk eating meat?
- π What is the state of a Zen disciples mind prior to a Satori?
- π What were the Original Methods of Meditation and their Instructions as Expounded by the Buddha?
- π What kind of mental state does the meditation on four elements generate?
- π What was Buddha's purpose in constructing The Four Stages of Enlightenment?
- π What are the different meditation types & how to do them?
- π What are the differences between Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism?
- π What is the best distance for kasina meditation between person and object?
- π What are the name and content of this Zen Buddhist koan?
- π What are the verses relating to meditation in the Tripitaka? And to what type of meditation does it relate to?
- π What are the Major Meditation Traditions / Masters in Laos / Cambodia / Vietnam?
- π What is the best meditation practice to fall asleep?
- π What is the logic behind visualization meditation
- π What is the meditation benefits of jhana?
- π What is the way to motivate myself for Vipasana meditation Practice daily?