As you can see by the quantity of adoring comments below, I do not need to add to the pile. Let it be known that I am grateful for your knowledge, it seems, in all things. Please keep it coming.
wow. I have always been "caught" "day dreaming" as it was called. I find myself throughout the day naturally doing the crossed eyed vision fade as a form of relaxation. When younger was "corrected" for not paying attention. It is a calm comforting non space when nothingness is like a fluffy warm blanket. Until recently, I attributed it to being bored. I now know that I AM unprogrammable, I AM on planet 'Earth" for a mission and I AM so grateful to be in the position to recognize my abilities.
As a zen disciple for about 25 years I can vouch for the experience and the pain both the body and mind can go through. There's nothing like a 7-day sesshin to bring you to the brink of your limits but also to help you progress in ways you cannot imagine!
Fifty years ago my new husband who had studied zazen in Japan suddenly decided we had to move from our recently rented apartment in Chicago to Rochester N Y so he could continue his studies with Phillip Kapleau. Being a dutiful wife I accompanied him on his journey of self discovery. I even attended several sessions, but there was no talk of following one's nose. We were encouraged to focus on breathing My husband did mention that if your back started to slaken in Japan, a temple monk could come by with a wooden stick and give you a sharp smack to help you refocus
So while we lived in our tiny little apt in Rochester, my husband who.I shall refer to as"N" became friends with a guy named Jim who did janitorial work for the. Baptist church next door. His main job was to keep the baptismal pools operational. When he wasn't performing his janitorial duties he did a lot of meditating. His guru at the time was a tibetan Rinpoche who had come to found a retreat in Vermont and teach how not to get involved in spiritual materialism. Long story short, N felt compelled to move to Long Island where he could study Aikido, and make trips to NYC as necessary to eat in Japanese restaurants and go to the bigger dojos there.
Somewhere along this journey of spiritual discovery, N and I went to Tail of the Tiger, the ashram in Vermont and N gradually stopped doing ZaZen. We mo,ved back to Boston, where we had met and I resumed my writing career eventually leaving my spiritually seeking husband behind. During the 1970s, a great number of my friends sought answers for their life questions in Eastern religions. I discovered gardening. Not something I can do on a subway, but then again I never ride them anymore as I don't venture far from from my garden...
thanks for sharing this Clif - it is very helpful. I especially love how the term "Grok" from Stranger in a Strange Land has become part of the common vernacular! One of my favorite college readings !
Hi clif, thanks for the instructions. Buddha eyes? I am 68. Everything in the body aches on a varying schedule already, so I am going to PASS on learning to hurt more. I did enjoy a chuckle... and the info. Americans already have 'numb brains' that are not thinking ... so this might be a good thing to do after we get rid of the deep state... Have a great day! R.E. Sutherland, M.Ed./sciences
A Buddhist monk arrived back in China after being abroad for a few years and went back to his monastery. He was immediately shocked to see, not silent beatific behavior abounding , but monks being pursued and if caught violently man-handled and taken away. What is going on he cried, seeing a monk standing close by. This place was an oasis of peace, of grace, of intellect.
Thank you Clif for all that you share with us. I love it and am addicted to your material, teachings and thought analysis. It makes my day every time I see you have posted something. I am so craving for things of that sort. Love and gratitude !
Thanks Clif; I discovered this technique on my own many years ago (with no instruction), and I used to have a ferocious "tickle" but now no tickle and no pain although there is another feeling that is hard to describe. This is the very first time anyone outside myself has validated this technique and I REALLY appreciate it!
As you can see by the quantity of adoring comments below, I do not need to add to the pile. Let it be known that I am grateful for your knowledge, it seems, in all things. Please keep it coming.
wow. I have always been "caught" "day dreaming" as it was called. I find myself throughout the day naturally doing the crossed eyed vision fade as a form of relaxation. When younger was "corrected" for not paying attention. It is a calm comforting non space when nothingness is like a fluffy warm blanket. Until recently, I attributed it to being bored. I now know that I AM unprogrammable, I AM on planet 'Earth" for a mission and I AM so grateful to be in the position to recognize my abilities.
As a zen disciple for about 25 years I can vouch for the experience and the pain both the body and mind can go through. There's nothing like a 7-day sesshin to bring you to the brink of your limits but also to help you progress in ways you cannot imagine!
My eyes are now stuck crossed. Thanks Clif
Fifty years ago my new husband who had studied zazen in Japan suddenly decided we had to move from our recently rented apartment in Chicago to Rochester N Y so he could continue his studies with Phillip Kapleau. Being a dutiful wife I accompanied him on his journey of self discovery. I even attended several sessions, but there was no talk of following one's nose. We were encouraged to focus on breathing My husband did mention that if your back started to slaken in Japan, a temple monk could come by with a wooden stick and give you a sharp smack to help you refocus
So while we lived in our tiny little apt in Rochester, my husband who.I shall refer to as"N" became friends with a guy named Jim who did janitorial work for the. Baptist church next door. His main job was to keep the baptismal pools operational. When he wasn't performing his janitorial duties he did a lot of meditating. His guru at the time was a tibetan Rinpoche who had come to found a retreat in Vermont and teach how not to get involved in spiritual materialism. Long story short, N felt compelled to move to Long Island where he could study Aikido, and make trips to NYC as necessary to eat in Japanese restaurants and go to the bigger dojos there.
Somewhere along this journey of spiritual discovery, N and I went to Tail of the Tiger, the ashram in Vermont and N gradually stopped doing ZaZen. We mo,ved back to Boston, where we had met and I resumed my writing career eventually leaving my spiritually seeking husband behind. During the 1970s, a great number of my friends sought answers for their life questions in Eastern religions. I discovered gardening. Not something I can do on a subway, but then again I never ride them anymore as I don't venture far from from my garden...
thanks for sharing this Clif - it is very helpful. I especially love how the term "Grok" from Stranger in a Strange Land has become part of the common vernacular! One of my favorite college readings !
Hi clif, thanks for the instructions. Buddha eyes? I am 68. Everything in the body aches on a varying schedule already, so I am going to PASS on learning to hurt more. I did enjoy a chuckle... and the info. Americans already have 'numb brains' that are not thinking ... so this might be a good thing to do after we get rid of the deep state... Have a great day! R.E. Sutherland, M.Ed./sciences
We experience a state of non thinking while long distance running. Breath and motion. Sometimes not remembering the course or path. 🏃♂️
I will try this today. Thank you Clif
A Buddhist monk arrived back in China after being abroad for a few years and went back to his monastery. He was immediately shocked to see, not silent beatific behavior abounding , but monks being pursued and if caught violently man-handled and taken away. What is going on he cried, seeing a monk standing close by. This place was an oasis of peace, of grace, of intellect.
The monk replied, " That was zen, this is Mao."
Thank you Clif for all that you share with us. I love it and am addicted to your material, teachings and thought analysis. It makes my day every time I see you have posted something. I am so craving for things of that sort. Love and gratitude !
Connects the inner world of sleeping dreaming to the outer world. Typically we only experience one at at time, awake or sleeping.
Guys meditation is not painful, it is a simple and pleasurable thing that has enormous unimaginable benefits.
I will never be able to adequately express my thanks and gratitude for your kindness. Thank you Clif!
I think I managed this once during yoga. I was immediately rewarded with an out of body experience.
Thanks Clif; I discovered this technique on my own many years ago (with no instruction), and I used to have a ferocious "tickle" but now no tickle and no pain although there is another feeling that is hard to describe. This is the very first time anyone outside myself has validated this technique and I REALLY appreciate it!