Shu Sho Ichi Nyo - Practice And Awakening Are Not Different

Master Dogen teaches that practice and awakening are one and the same thing, there is no difference. Shu Sho Ichi Nyo. There is no difference between practicing and realization. If the practice is right, if we practice with a mind that doesn't get trapped in anything, that is if we constantly bring it back to this simple construct of embodied awareness and breathing, here and now, the mind becomes totally free.

Transcript

When we practice sitting in Zazen,

We are invited to give up every fight.

Instead of fighting with thoughts that arise,

Or the opposite.

Instead of getting completely entangled in our thoughts,

Our emotions,

Mental processes,

Perceptions and sensations.

We are invited to be fully absorbed in embodied awareness,

Through attention on the posture,

And tuning in to the rhythm of our breathing.

The posture should be strong,

In all our energy.

And the breathing can gradually slow down,

As we let go of the out-breath.

And relax shoulders,

Chest,

Belly,

The muscles in the face.

And by doing so,

Come back to the simple living reality of the present moment.

Just this body,

And just this breath.

A solution so simple,

Proposed by the Buddha.

Maybe too simple for the ego to understand.

But it can be practiced.

And within the framework of this very simple construct,

Attention on body posture,

And attention on breathing,

The mind can become completely liberated,

Completely free.

Don't expect any special state of mind.

Don't look for enlightenment.

Because it is already here.

On this point,

Master Dogen teaches that practice and awakening is one and the same thing.

There is no difference.

Practice and awakening is not two.

In other words,

There is no difference between practicing and enlightenment.

If the practice is right,

We practice with a mind that doesn't get stuck on anything.

A mind that doesn't get trapped in anything.

Instead of ruminating our thoughts,

We constantly bring that attention back to this simple construct.

Body posture,

And breathing.

Here,

And now.

Within that very simple construct that embraces the living reality of the present moment,

The mind is totally free.

So when we encounter obstacles on the way,

Maybe we have particular recurring thoughts,

Projections,

Emotions,

Or moods,

Rather than fighting them,

Let's embrace them.

If we welcome them,

We can see their impermanent nature,

That they constantly change.

And by returning our attention inward,

We step into this circle of wonder,

Where change happens.

Where the mind transforms.

Where we embrace this marvelous nature of our existence.

Constantly changing.

Always new.

Fresh,

Bright,

And shining.