Revolution nrrrd style now! (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
riot_nrrrd) wrote2003-02-17 04:04 am
riot_nrrrd) wrote2003-02-17 04:04 am
Third Day of Osesshin
I feel much better today than I did yesterday. This is partially because while everyone else went to sanzen1, I (and the other exchange students) took advantage of the fact that no one was there to administer the keisaku (which they do give you without asking sometimes; I found that out yesterday) and took a nap. It's not just that, though. I get to move today. I have kitchen duty after teisho2, and at 3, Chi-san is meeting with us to tell us more about zazen and how to do it correctly. Maybe I'll actually be able to concentrate after I learn what the hell I'm supposed to be doing.
Lisa says not to worry-- for her, the second and third days are the most tiring, but by the fifth or so day, you get energy and you become used to the schedule. She reminded me that this is my first osesshin and I need to be patient with myself. I needed to hear that.
I continue to be moved by small kindnesses here, and how freely people give them. Right now, I have Chi-san's hand-knitted socks and Teresa's head towel to keep me warm. Lisa lets me put my hakama3, which Teresa lent me to keep my feet from freezing in the zendo, in her room while I'm doing niten sōji. I have energy drink mix from Lisa, and hot packs from Teresa and Chi-san. And just when I think zazen is too much for me, Chi-san is taking time out of her busy schedule to explain it. Life is good indeed.
1. sanzen: An exchange between the student of zen and the zen master. From what I understand, this involves many of the things commonly associated with zen: the solving of koans, the conveying of lessons, and the like. Because the other exchange students and I were just visiting, and not there as serious students of Zen Buddhism, we were not permitted to participate.
2. teisho: A lecture given by the roshi to the other residents of the temple.
3. hakama: A tied-on skirt-like garment worn by monks.
Lisa says not to worry-- for her, the second and third days are the most tiring, but by the fifth or so day, you get energy and you become used to the schedule. She reminded me that this is my first osesshin and I need to be patient with myself. I needed to hear that.
I continue to be moved by small kindnesses here, and how freely people give them. Right now, I have Chi-san's hand-knitted socks and Teresa's head towel to keep me warm. Lisa lets me put my hakama3, which Teresa lent me to keep my feet from freezing in the zendo, in her room while I'm doing niten sōji. I have energy drink mix from Lisa, and hot packs from Teresa and Chi-san. And just when I think zazen is too much for me, Chi-san is taking time out of her busy schedule to explain it. Life is good indeed.
1. sanzen: An exchange between the student of zen and the zen master. From what I understand, this involves many of the things commonly associated with zen: the solving of koans, the conveying of lessons, and the like. Because the other exchange students and I were just visiting, and not there as serious students of Zen Buddhism, we were not permitted to participate.
2. teisho: A lecture given by the roshi to the other residents of the temple.
3. hakama: A tied-on skirt-like garment worn by monks.