The Zen Studies Podcast 315 - Bad Zazen: Not Just an Oxymoron
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Sep 30, 2025 Discover the intriguing world of shikantaza, where meditation is about letting go of striving. Explore why some find this seemingly simple practice challenging due to distractions and dullness. Gain insights into the Soto school's emphasis on posture over thought control, while learning to navigate feelings of 'bad zazen.' Uncover practical techniques for enhancing focus, blending tranquility with illumination. Embrace the idea that there's no such thing as bad meditation, as self-compassion plays a crucial role in our practice.
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Simplicity Hides Subtle Technicality
- Zazen's apparent simplicity masks deep technical and physical requirements that dominate formal instructions.
- Domyo Burk emphasizes posture, setting, and breath as the foundation that lets the mind naturally settle.
Let Thoughts Come And Go
- Do not concentrate on any particular object or control your thought while sitting.
- Allow thoughts to arise and pass, and return to posture moment by moment.
No-Striving Versus Felt Quality
- Despite teachings against judging practice, practitioners still sense variability in zazen quality.
- Domyo Burk notes the tension between 'no-striving' teachings and our experience of better or worse sittings.
