An Introduction ~

“Letting go” is not a directive, but a statement of reality. We have to let go, because everything is always changing and there is nothing to hold on to. When we recognize that there is nothing to hold on to, then there is nothing to let go of. All that is left is “to be”.

“Being” is the experience of life as it is now presenting itself. If we feel pain or resistance, there is some fear we are bringing to this moment, something we are holding onto. The only action of life is to stay where we are, whether we are moving or sitting still. This doesn’t mean to do nothing; it means to be totally involved in whatever we are doing. This is what it means to stay present.

To stay present is to awaken to each moment. Awakening is seeing what is right in front of you. Awakening happens when you see life in each moment in a new way, for the first time. Each time we awaken it is a step in the discovery of our capacity to awaken and an encouragement to explore the process further.

When we sit in zazen we see what is, including what we are and the bigger life we are a part of. It is effortless noticing. Dogen Zenji calls zazen “the activity of buddhas” because when we are doing zazen we express buddha nature. We are already buddha nature, everything is Buddha nature. Shikantaza is to simply sit and allow buddha nature to express itself.

“Consider the lilies of the field how they grow, they do not toil nor spin. Yet … not even Solomon in all his splendor was arrayed like one of these.”

Great Tree Zen Temple offers a variety of practice opportunities welcoming those new to zen meditation  and those whom may be looking to deepen their existing practice while experiencing Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist path and tradition.