Realisation Of Ease And Joy

Zazen is not just another meditation technique. It is the direct realisation of ease and joy. When we put all our energy in the practice, then the mountains, the rivers and the ricefields all work together to support us in life.

Transcript

While we are sitting like this,

In Zazen,

Fully concentrated on body posture and the rhythm of the breathing,

Spontaneously,

Automatically,

Naturally,

We realize the Buddha Dharma.

But what is that,

The Buddha Dharma?

It stands for the realization of waking up to the reality,

Becoming aware,

Becoming conscious.

And not just mentally,

Conscious,

But realized through the entire being and all of its dimensions.

Physical dimension of the body,

The realization of,

And the awareness of sensations.

Perceptions,

Impressions,

Thoughts,

All kinds of mental processes and emotional processes.

And the consciousness itself.

So body,

Sensations,

Perceptions,

Mental processes and consciousness.

That's what constitutes the reality of our existence.

We can observe that all of these are empty.

It means that none of them have a substantial,

Continuous,

It's continuously changing.

It's at once a characteristic of reality.

That very often make us suffer,

Because we are attached.

And it is also at once the key to liberation.

Coming to acceptance with the dynamic of the Universe.

That empower us to harmonize with this constant change.

Not staying stuck in our own opinions.

Continuously becoming courageous to step into the unknown.

To recognize and be grateful for what is given.

And deliberately spending our energy,

Dedicating our effort,

To practicing embodied awareness.

In a lecture to farmers,

That were living around the area where Dogen was building a temple.

In speaking to these farmers,

Dogen explained what Zazen is.

Not just some kind of meditation method,

But the direct realization of ease and joy.

He said when we dedicate all our energy,

And stay tuned,

Conscious of the breathing.

When we do that with all our effort and all our energy,

Then the mountains,

The rivers,

And the rice fields,

All start working together,

To provide us with the necessities of life.

It's like magic.

When we dedicate our energy,

To practice for the well-being of the entire Universe,

The entire Universe conspires,

To support us in life.