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Re: Zazen is not meditation?!
But zazen is meditation then! Why say it is not meditation practice? I mean, I find this an extra-confusing step. Perhaps you want to get rid of categories and concepts but human beings operate and construct these to engage with their reality.
[Dramatic pause]
Mid-way through writing that paragraph I realise how this conceptual proliferation -In Theravada, they call it papañca - is so human-like and perhaps to reach Nirvana one must learn to pause it.
Kotishka's head begins to emit steam
Thank you all.
PD: I will watch the videos later Shoshin 
Kotishka
Re: Funny Stuff
Recently, in a large French city, a poster with the image of a skinny and tanned young woman appeared in a gym window. The text read: “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale? ”
A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the model on the poster, responded publicly to the provocation with these words:
“To whom it is due,
Whales are always surrounded by friends: dolphins, sea lions and curious humans. They have an active sex life, get pregnant and give birth to adorable baby whales. They love eating shrimp, playing and swimming in the oceans, visiting amazing places such as Patagonia, the Bering Sea and Polynesian coral reefs.
Whales make amazing singers and they even recorded CDs. They're incredible creatures and almost free of predators, except for humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost the whole world.
Mermaids, on the other hand, don't exist. And if they existed, would they line up in front of psychoanalysts’ studies to solve their identity crisis: fish or human? Even the most experienced therapist would find themselves in trouble.
They don’t have a sex life, because they kill the men that approach them. But how could they? Where would 'that thing' be? Consequently, they don't have children. And who would want to approach a girl who smells of fish tank?
P.S. We live in a time where the media tries to convince us that only skinny people are beautiful. I, on the other hand, prefer to enjoy ice cream with my children, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and good chocolate with my girlfriends.
Over time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that, when there is no more space, it is distributed to the rest of our body. So we are not burdened, we are hugely educated and happy. "
Jeroen
Re: American Zen?
Master Muho Nolke -who would have been my first "live" instructor- insists in half or full lotus. I'm glad I did not attend his sesshin (pandemic cancelled it) or I would probably be using a cane by now (I'm 33 lol!). I have discovered he has a damaged nerve on one of his legs due to his intense practice.. 
Ouch! I still enjoy his books and YouTube podcast though.
(The image shows my Äppalö wooden stool 
)
Kotishka
Re: Dogen's Shobogenzo - Komyo (光明)
I have found a 5 hour podcast about this chapter done by Brad if anyone else wishes to join my quest. It is split in 5 parts. The first part is him reading a paraphrased version for those unfamiliar. It includes a commentary of the paraphrased version and why he thought it would be useful.
Good sittings to you all!
Kotishka
Re: American Zen?
I have been interested in studying and learning about this teacher a bit more. What pulled me a bit from Zen was how some teachers were extremely strict about posture, to the point of sacrificing physical well-being. I have now found a sangha which does not mind, even permits me, to use my wooden Ikea stool to practice with them.
I will watch the video later, thanks for sharing!
Kotishka
Re: All Things Apple (was MacBook Air, but things evolve...)
I bought the latest iPad Air with that M3 chip. I have to say I am extremely satisfied with it. Compared to my Samsung S3 Lite ... well.. What a difference! It also has a left-handed mode which is ideal as with my other tablet I kept having issues due to my palm triggering the screen / text to move.
Kotishka
Re: Zazen is not meditation?!
Hey Kotishka
Can your meditation be found through a description of it?
Can you describe it in a way that the mind grasps after no thing?
Does this goal of goal- lessness need a goalie?
Even the Prajnaparamita's description of it, through offerings of what it is not,
falls short.
Which is actually its point.
Ozempic for your suffering?. Coming soon to a zafu near you.
how
Re: Buddhist quotes
“If a fish swims in the sea, he never reaches the end of the ocean. If a bird flies in the sky, he never reaches the end of the sky. Therefore, neither fish nor bird can know the entirety of the ocean or the sky, before setting out on the journey or after.”
— Dogen, Genjokoan
Jeroen
American Zen?
After watching the videos that @Shoshin1 posted of Shohaku Okamura I went and had a look on YouTube for more, it led my morning into some beautiful spaces, and I came across this:
It is a short piece about how Zen came from China to Japan and is now moving to America, and how at each step it was transformed into something new. Shohaku basically says that in time, the Zen that is practised in America will become Americanised, a new zen. Of course this takes a while.
But I hope that some of what is beautiful about Japanese Zen will stay in the American or Western traditions. The gardens, the pottery, the contemplative spaces. Zen has a rich heritage.
Jeroen
Re: Zazen is not meditation?!
@Shoshin1 said:
Zazen is good for nothing.(videos)
I really enjoyed these video’s, it was a perfect reminder for my morning.
Thanks @Shoshin1
Jeroen