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**Pete789** · 02-13-2011, 08:13 AM

I used to be a serious meditator, but recently I haven't had the time (or I got lazy...cause I really should make the time). Its much easier when you're near a spiritual community (sangha) too.

I used to do morning and evening without fail (maybe about 3 hours a day) and I did that for years.

Just as a word of advice:
You really shouldn't start off with shikantaza because its a much more advanced form of meditation. Usually beginners never do it right. Even after 2 or 3 years of sitting mornings and evenings (an hour or more) some people still dont do shikantaza. If you are serious about the spirtual aspect of it (rather than just a stress release) you should get a spirtual teacher.. They usually tell you when you've gotten to the point where you can properly do shikantaza. Again, otherwise you may not actually be doing it right (and you may not get anything out of it). If there arn't any Zen spitual teachers that live in your area thats ok. My spirtual teacher is a 5-6 hour car ride from where I live.

Focusing on the breath (counting or whatever) is the best way to start if you never did meditation before...and its something you can start without a teacher. As odd as it sounds, theres a certain way to do it right too. I'd recommend "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Kaplea Roshi because it explains how to do it really well. Its especially good if your into the spiritual aspect of it.

Uhm, short term... uhm, well again you may not be doing it right if you are starting out and doing shikantaza so you probably arn't getting any of this...I still focus on my breath but I usually feel really relaxed, and have a clearer mind after doing it. If I'm stressing out about work, then after meditating for a little bit I will have dropped it and felt better. Plus I feel more alive...more in the present. But thats now a days... I cant remember what it was like in the first few months after I started meditating because that was over 8 years ago or something like that. It may have been different.

Seriously though, seriously, don't start out with Shikantaza, not unless you have a zen teacher that says you should. Otherwise you are not really doing zen.

And you're right, don't focus on the short term benefits, because ironically they will come better when you don't focus on them.

Its funny though...everyone here (hopefully) knows that you can't do kendo from a book. Zen is kinda the same. You can start out from a book if you are desperate, but ultimately if you want to really be serious about it you need to have a spiritual teacher and a sangha (community).

OOPS I just noticed that the origninal OP said he/she doesnt do shikantaza after all but focuses on the breath. Good.

Anyway I've gotten A LOT out of it. But hahah its hard to put in words what I get/got out of it long term.

02-13-2011, 08:13 AM	#31
Pete789 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 536 Senior Member	I used to be a serious meditator, but recently I haven't had the time (or I got lazy...cause I really should make the time). Its much easier when you're near a spiritual community (sangha) too. I used to do morning and evening without fail (maybe about 3 hours a day) and I did that for years. Just as a word of advice: You really shouldn't start off with shikantaza because its a much more advanced form of meditation. Usually beginners never do it right. Even after 2 or 3 years of sitting mornings and evenings (an hour or more) some people still dont do shikantaza. If you are serious about the spirtual aspect of it (rather than just a stress release) you should get a spirtual teacher.. They usually tell you when you've gotten to the point where you can properly do shikantaza. Again, otherwise you may not actually be doing it right (and you may not get anything out of it). If there arn't any Zen spitual teachers that live in your area thats ok. My spirtual teacher is a 5-6 hour car ride from where I live. Focusing on the breath (counting or whatever) is the best way to start if you never did meditation before...and its something you can start without a teacher. As odd as it sounds, theres a certain way to do it right too. I'd recommend "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Kaplea Roshi because it explains how to do it really well. Its especially good if your into the spiritual aspect of it. Uhm, short term... uhm, well again you may not be doing it right if you are starting out and doing shikantaza so you probably arn't getting any of this...I still focus on my breath but I usually feel really relaxed, and have a clearer mind after doing it. If I'm stressing out about work, then after meditating for a little bit I will have dropped it and felt better. Plus I feel more alive...more in the present. But thats now a days... I cant remember what it was like in the first few months after I started meditating because that was over 8 years ago or something like that. It may have been different. Seriously though, seriously, don't start out with Shikantaza, not unless you have a zen teacher that says you should. Otherwise you are not really doing zen. And you're right, don't focus on the short term benefits, because ironically they will come better when you don't focus on them. Its funny though...everyone here (hopefully) knows that you can't do kendo from a book. Zen is kinda the same. You can start out from a book if you are desperate, but ultimately if you want to really be serious about it you need to have a spiritual teacher and a sangha (community). OOPS I just noticed that the origninal OP said he/she doesnt do shikantaza after all but focuses on the breath. Good. Anyway I've gotten A LOT out of it. But hahah its hard to put in words what I get/got out of it long term.
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