Norman Fischer: Norman Fischer: 10-05-2013: Beyond Thinking: Dogen's Teachings on Zazen (Part 2)

Summary: Episode Description: In this episode, Roshi Norman begins to delve into "The Point of Zazen." What Dogen meant by the "point," according to Roshi, is the "pivot point" or essence of the practice. So the text is about the very heart of zazen. "The Point of Zazen" is organized around three traditional Zen texts, each of which Dogen comments upon at length. The first text involves a dialogue between Zen master Yaoshan and a monk, and it is the subject of the rest of this episode. In brief, Dogen tells us through his analysis of this dialogue that zazen is neither about chasing after thoughts nor is it about denying thoughts and pursuing a kind of transcendent or quiescent state. Zazen is about sitting with both thinking and the absence of thinking, bearing witness to what arises, and allowing our "life to be our life." It also involves bringing to practice a wholehearted effort to investigate our experience and also a seeking of meaning. So, we meditate and investigate. We "engage in zazen, and endeavor in the way," realizing that we lack nothing; we are already sitting, practicing Buddhas. The episode concludes with a brief Q&A. For Series Description and teacher BIO, please see Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: Beyond Thinking: Dogen's Teachings on Zazen Series: All 8 Parts