In your zazen you
become an obstacle of buddha-nature -- of buddha-light. What Yakusan [with his one finger Zen] demonstrated is
also shikantaza - in which you have no gaining idea. You just sit. Because you practice zazen to have complete calmness in your mind,
then you have become really an obstacle of -- really a problem or
disturbance. But when you have no gaining idea, then all the things which
happen in your zazen will become one finger. At that time, your zazen
becomes so-called painful zazen [laughs]. -------------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-10-12-A as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching. - DC
