Guest Charlotte Joko Beck delves into distinguishing true from false suffering in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the impermanence of life and the importance of acceptance. They explore challenges in Zen practice, embracing the transformative power of suffering, and the reality of the present moment through sashin.
Distinguishing between true and false suffering is crucial in Zen practice.
Effective Zen practice involves confronting fear, embracing impermanence, and living in the present moment.
Deep dives
Understanding True Suffering vs. False Suffering
Recognizing the distinction between true suffering and false suffering is essential in practice. True suffering involves acceptance and understanding without resistance, while false suffering arises from conceptualizing events and clinging to opinions. Joko Beck highlights how life's uncertainties and impermanence contribute to suffering, emphasizing the need to move from resisting to absorbing suffering in order to broaden one's perspective.
Navigating the Obstacles to Practice
Several obstacles hinder effective practice, including resistance, lack of self-honesty, fixation on personal achievements, underestimating the ongoing nature of the practice, and substituting discussion for actual practice. Resistance and overanalyzing cloud the path to authentic practice, urging practitioners to focus on seeing reality as it is without the interference of personal ideals or excessive discourse.
Embracing Fear and Impermanence in Practice
True Zen practice entails confronting fear and relinquishing the need for constant analysis and control. Embracing impermanence and letting go of the self-centered narrative leads to a direct experience of reality. By adopting an impersonal perspective and living in the present moment without fixation on personal gains or achievements, individuals can move beyond self-imposed barriers and approach life with clarity and acceptance.
April 2024 Sesshin, Day 6 Commentary on the teachings of Charlotte Joko Beck from Everyday Zen: Love and Work. Teisho by Sensei John Pulleyn. Automated Transcript