Three Speed Transmission approach compatible with Shikantaza?

Hi, all.

Just wondering if the X3 ST approach has been proven to be compatible with 'objectless' zazen/shikantaza 'just sitting' practice.

In the tradition I'm engaged with we 'just sit' and, in a sense, allow things to clarify themselves. Although this is sometimes criticized as too passive, the sitting is itself a very substantial inquiry if approached correctly.

Actually, I should say that my own view is that, while the approach does not have a specific object like some of the classic shamatha techniques, the action of sitting itself (the whole 'posture' of body/mind from our grossest experience of it to its most broad, subtle and inclusive range) can be seen to be the dynamic 'object' of the practice in a very real and direct way.

The head teacher of our family of groups once said of zazen/shikantaza that it incorporates both vipassana and shamatha in that the physical posture is shamatha (in that it naturally stabilizes and focuses attention and calms the mind) while the content, or our experience of the sitting, is vipassana... in my experience there seems to be truth in that.

Regards,

Harry.

I'd classify Zazen as third gear practice. It is said sitting zazen is the same as enlightenment. That fits nicely with the third gear approach.

For example, sitting and following the breath could be first gear.

Asking "who am I" while sitting could be second gear.

Just sitting could be third gear.

I've seen all three approaches talked about as Zen practices, with Zazen being the highest practice of the three.

Hi mumuwu,

Yes, it seems there are a variety of approaches/methods referred to as 'zazen'. I basically agree that zazen is enlightenment... but I would say that, looked at in the broadest sense, any valid practice of awakening is enlightenment; If the practice enlightens (by hook or by crook even!) then surely it's the real 'stuff' of enlightenment.

Also, it does seem to me that shikantaza-style 'just sitting' zazen, if it is engaged in sincerely, is a very complete practice.

A caution I would offer is that the 'zazen is enlightenment' statement is sometimes taken wrongly; it has been used to portray other practices as inferior etc., and such statements have led to some practitioners drawing simplistic conclusions so that they effectively make 'enlightenment' a sort of shoddy assumption or belief before they have really explored the depth and range of zazen (and I don't claim to have fully explored it myself by any means!)

A weakness I have observed in zen is that there is sometimes no practices to integrate the 'on-cushion' practice into everyday activity (although koan work is said to do this... but I'm not overly convinced on that point myself... I think there are more direct ways personally). That's why I was interested in the Three Speed Trans. approach, as it seems to integrate various approaches in a fuller way as opposed to being a bit 'top heavy' in the personal, on-cushion insight department, as can be the case in zen practice at times in my experience.

Well, the thing with Zazen and with the KFD third gear approach, is that there is no goal, this is it, "there is nowhere to go and nothing to get." Also, the idea is that if you can stay with that, then that's all you need to do.

The other 2 gears are there for when you can't just do that.

I agree that 'just sitting' is a complete practice.

"A caution I would offer is that the 'zazen is enlightenment' statement is sometimes taken wrongly; it has been used to portray other practices as inferior etc., and such statements have led to some practitioners drawing simplistic conclusions so that they effectively make 'enlightenment' a sort of shoddy assumption or belief before they have really explored the depth and range of zazen (and I don't claim to have fully explored it myself by any means!)"

- Yeah - exactly. Zazen is awesome, I've been exploring it again as of late.

"A weakness I have observed in zen is that there is sometimes no practices to integrate the 'on-cushion' practice into everyday activity (although koan work is said to do this... but I'm not overly convinced on that point myself... I think there are more direct ways personally). That's why I was interested in the Three Speed Trans. approach, as it seems to integrate various approaches in a fuller way as opposed to being a bit 'top heavy' in the personal, on-cushion insight department, as can be the case in zen practice at times in my experience."

- From what I gather and have practiced myself, you could certainly integrate Koan practice into daily life. For example one day you realize that the work you are engaged in, is itself the answer to the Koan you are pondering - THIS JUST THIS - AHA!

The genius of Zen is the directness of it. I don't think we are often ready for that. The 3 gears works up to that.

"- From what I gather and have practiced myself, you could certainly integrate Koan practice into daily life. For example one day you realize that the work you are engaged in, is itself the answer to the Koan you are pondering - THIS JUST THIS - AHA!"

Yes, I think that's the idea, especially with the old 'wato' or capping phrase practice of carrying your 'who is the master that hears this sound?' or 'who am I?' about with you. I enjoyed koan work (as in a formal koan curriculum with a teacher) at its initial stages but came to feel that the follow-up checking koan were not really for me; I didn't find them conducive to engaging with my real life as it was unfolding. I found also that some of the traditional koan, organised in sequence as they are, are not as relevant as they could be (they come from a different time, from within different cultural frames of reference etc).

So, I suppose the set koan curriculum wasn't for me, but individual koan certainly do appeal to me, as do 'found koan', those important questions that present themselves urgently from direct experience.

Yeah - that sounds about right.

There's definitely ones you find that have a good effect.

This practice outlined by Kenneth seems to cover a lot of bases:
kennethfolkdharma.com/2011/06/journalist...-and-how-of-selfing/