禅Keizan Jōkin

sermon

Zazen Yojinki: Notes on What to Be Aware of in Zazen

Zazen Yojinki

Kamakura

Historically verified

Text

Zazen is not something you learn to do. It is simply sitting in the awareness that is already here. Do not try to become a buddha—you already are one. Do not try to get rid of delusions—they are already empty. When sitting, let body and mind fall away naturally. Do not follow thoughts, and do not push them away. Just sit, upright and alert, like a great mountain that cannot be moved. Breathe naturally. Whether thoughts come or go, whether the mind is clear or cloudy, just continue sitting. This sitting itself is the gateless gate of liberation.

license: public_domain

Attribution

Lineage: Sōtō

By Keizan Jōkin

From Zazen Yojinki

Sources

No per-field confidence has been recorded for this teaching yet. Treat individual claims with the caution appropriate to the source list below.

Attribution status: verified — see editorial policy for what this means.

1 supporting citation on record (see Sources above).

Spot something wrong? Report an issue — please include a source so we can verify the correction.