The mind during Shikantaza
Upvote:0
The nature of consciousness is it always has an 'object'. This is similar to if a very loud noise occurs; hearing the loud noise cannot be avoided. Consciousness of the loud noise happens automatically.
If a practitioner 'just sits', i.e., does not think or does not exercise intention/volition apart from 'just sitting', then the mind will automatically (primarily) be aware of the silence. Then objects, such as sounds may enter consciousness. Or, more predominantly, objects such as the in & out breathing may become the dominant sense object of consciousness. Similar to a loud noise, consciousness cannot avoid continuously experiencing the in & out breathing, jhana, etc. It will be automatic.
If the mind is allowed to wander in thoughts, certainly this cannot be 'just sitting' since it would be 'sitting & thinking' rather than 'just sitting'. Allowing the mind to wander in thought is different to continuously experiencing in & out breathing since the mind can control/stop thoughts but cannot control/stop breathing.
'Just sitting', I imagine, is just sitting. Thus, intention operates for the sole purpose of just sitting. Since thinking is not 'just sitting', the mind must act to maintain a state of just sitting.
'Thinking' is not 'just sitting'. Acting to stop thinking is also not 'just sitting'. But once both thinking & acting to stop thinking stop, there will be only the state of 'just sitting'.
Therefore, there is say 'the path' to achieve 'just sitting' and the actual achievement of 'just sitting', which are two different things.
Once 'just sitting' is achieved, the mind will automatically be enlightened by the 10,000 things.
Upvote:3
Look, there is nothing special about Shikantaza or any other type of meditation. If you ask me honestly, I say that meditation is for fun really. You don't do it to achieve anything. In fact the idea is to let everything be. And NOT achieve anything. No "Nirvana", No "Moksha", No "separation", No "clinging" or whatever labels we like to create.
There is really no answer to this question apart from experience. You just sit and go on with whatever happens, your physical and mental sensations. Until they cease (or not). The moment you start thinking anything about it or whatever to do about it, the point is lost.
What I mean is whatever you are thinking right now about the way to do it, or "am I doing it right?" or "what should I focus on?" or such like questions are mere thoughts and are invalid.
More post
- 📝 To hell with metta - how to understand AN4.125?
- 📝 I'm looking for an outline of the practices going from beginner to jhana or streamentry
- 📝 Do flying monks described in Buddhist texts contradict with physics?
- 📝 Understanding Mindfulness through outwardly qualities
- 📝 Are Southern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism the same?
- 📝 Relationship of Planck units and duration of a rebirth in Naraka
- 📝 Continuity of memories as a proof of the existence of self
- 📝 The Story of Buddha
- 📝 Clinging to Dhamma!
- 📝 Meditation and being aware in your sleep while dreaming
- 📝 Is the following quote in conventional lanaguge?
- 📝 Is rebirth a conventional truth within the Buddha's message?
- 📝 Are there communities of practicing secular Buddhists?
- 📝 Is rebirth scientifically proven?
- 📝 How to increase the speed of learning about oneself?
- 📝 Why have a legal/ justice system? Let karma take care of things?
- 📝 Sutta with firefly simile
- 📝 Is their any reference in buddhism about time travell and parallel universe travell?
- 📝 Ritual in buddhism (preferably theravada) for lay people
- 📝 How can the sixth channel of dhatus be understood?
- 📝 If Theravada doesn't posit the selflessness of phenomena, then how to interpret SN 22.95?
- 📝 If there be no soul or transmigrating entity that takes rebirth, who or what bears or enjoys the consequences or fruits of karma?
- 📝 How to get rid of hate?
- 📝 How we can develop metta for terrorists?
- 📝 Spiritual friendship with the Buddha
- 📝 How can the concept of Anicca be linked to Sunyata?
- 📝 Crippling fear of hellfire &, damnation, please help?
- 📝 Why are some bodily fluids missing from the "Thirty Two Parts of the Body" teaching?
- 📝 Is it useful (and polite) to ask a potential meditation teacher about their attainments?
- 📝 Kesi Sutta, what is an untamable person?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 The mind during Shikantaza
- 📝 what happens to the mind during meditation?
- 📝 How does one explain consistency within phenomena if the mind generates phenomena?
- 📝 In the Anapanasati Sutta, what is the difference between mind and mental processes?
- 📝 Meditation and good deeds vs clarity of mind during death
- 📝 During insight meditation, what does the meditator note in-between the rising and falling of the abdomen?
- 📝 What are the resources a Buddhist can use during very hard times?
- 📝 Is the mind different from the other 'six senses'?
- 📝 Meditation through clearing the mind of all thoughts
- 📝 Was the Buddha known to chant during his meditation?
- 📝 How does the force of ones karma determine where the mind stream goes?
- 📝 What enters the mind of an idle Buddha?
- 📝 When the Buddha changes his mind to teach
- 📝 Mental note of thoughts during the day
- 📝 Is there awareness of impermanence during the formless meditations
- 📝 What is the best way to develop a mind observation habit?
- 📝 Why does the mind always want to 'do something' and how to cultivate 'non-doing'?
- 📝 Taming the mind and Homelessness
- 📝 Is it not recommended to change the object of meditation during a short session?
- 📝 Did the Buddha ever 'thunder' during a Fire Sermon?
- 📝 What is the difference between Shikantaza and Zazen?
- 📝 Does thinking during an action improve the quality of the action or reduce it?
- 📝 Am I Bearing the pain or observing it, When my leg hurts during Vipassana?
- 📝 Is the Mind (Citta) the Self? If not, what is it?
- 📝 Different state of mind during dhamma talk
- 📝 Calming the mind
- 📝 About the "knower" disappearing during vipassana
- 📝 What is the sutta in which the Buddha described focusing the mind as similar to whittling?
- 📝 What to do when music gets played in the mind
- 📝 What is the state of a Zen disciples mind prior to a Satori?