zafrogzen

Gunther said earlier, “There is a famous Zen saying: If by sitting meditation you could become enlightened all the frogs near the pond would be Buddha's?” I can’t remember coming across that “famous” saying before, but, aside from whether frogs are enlightened or not, to say that sitting meditation isn’t a practice that engenders the possibility of enlightenment is contrary to the experience of a majority of the great sages (including the Buddha) who were enlightened as a direct result of sitting meditation. What other practice is so effective?

Greetings from the North Coast of California. I’m an oldtimer, who started zazen with Suzuki Roshi in the early sixties and have continued every since. I also trained with many other zen teachers -- Kobun, Robert Aitken, Sasaki, Toni Packer and many others. Now i mostly practice on my own, since there aren’t any teachers or centers in my neighborhood. I’ve also studied the I Ching since the sixties, by simply throwing it once a week -- or more if I’m feeling especially insecure. It has become increasingly meaningful over the years. I have a website, frogzen.com -- mainly for the great writing program it provides. I’m very verbal, quite combative, not easily offended and I love a heated discussion. I do frequently go on internet fasts however. Thinking and discussing is seductive and easily overdone. Time passes quickly.