Zen Practice

[nhyuyi]

Greetings All

I was practicing Zen Buddhism in a local Sangha that was close to my home.But they moved out of my area, and I began to practice alone. Supposedly, one should sit with others, but I actually enjoy solitary practice.

I asked the I Ching about my situation and I received # 59.5

I also asked it to give me an overall assessment of my spirituality at this time.And WOW, hexagram 59.5 again!!

I'm somewhat new to this, so could you guy's please clarify these readings?


Thanks

 

[fyreflye]

I was practicing Zen Buddhism in a local Sangha that was close to my home.But they moved out of my area, and I began to practice alone. Supposedly, one should sit with others, but I actually enjoy solitary practice.

I asked the I Ching about my situation and I received # 59.5

I also asked it to give me an overall assessment of my spirituality at this time.And WOW, hexagram 59.5 again!!

I'm somewhat new to this, so could you guy's please clarify these readings?

Clarifying the reading will be difficult unless we know how long you had been practicing with the group, how many hours a week you sat with them, whether you attended sesshins, and if so, how many and of what duration.

Hexagram 59 "Dispersion" could refer to your separation from the group or it could refer to the dispersion of your powers of concentration and intensity of practice while sitting alone. You say you "enjoy" solitary practice, but that says nothing about how correct your practice is. You may just enjoy it because it allows you to slack off, or it may be because your practice has become deeper. Why do you enjoy it?

There's a hint in the secondary Hexagram that results when you change the #5 yang line to a yin line. The yang in the 5th place is the ruling line of 59 and refers to a king or great ruler, a yang element in a yang placement. When the ruling line changes to yin, the Hexagram becomes 4, "Youthful Folly" or "inexperience." Read this Hexagram and note particularly the Decision: "It is not I who seeks the ignorant, the ignorant seeks me. On the first divination I give light. Repeating again is contemptuous. Being contemptuous, I give no more instruction." (Huang translation) This refers to what happened when you cast a second time and again received 59. But the Decision continues, "Favorable to be steadfast and upright" - a perfect description of zazen practice.

So a correct interpretation comes down to how advanced you are as a student. A person well-seasoned in practice can sit alone without a teacher and progress; a novice or a casual student can not. A seasoned Zen student is one whose most important purpose is to practice zazen. So how seasoned is your practice?

-fyreflye

 

[jesed]

Hi
Just in case te comment could be useful

Deep answer; I need to know
a) if you made the question before June 18; or in June 18. That would change the entire interpretation.
b) how many yearr old you are
c) how many years of spiritual practice you have

Best wishes

 

[jesed]

ps. the last one is because 4, in spiritual questions, not always means "Being contemptuous"... depending on the years of experience (in life and in spiritual practices) the meaning could talk about a student or a teacher.

 

[nhyuyi]

Hi
Just in case te comment could be useful

Deep answer; I need to know
a) if you made the question before June 18; or in June 18. That would change the entire interpretation.
b) how many yearr old you are
c) how many years of spiritual practice you have

---------------

Jesed..
a) I made the question before June 18
b) 45 ..( lying about it won't change it)
c) I've been practicing 3 years (haphazardly).Well.. over the years, I 'have' been a little slack. but doing better.

----------------

@FyreFlye...
"A seasoned Zen student is one whose most important purpose is to practice zazen. So how seasoned is your practice? "

Unfortunately, my practice in the past was not what it should have been, but lately, I've really stepped it up, and this prompted my questions to the I Ching.

Thanks to both of you for responding

 

[bruce_g]

Sitting is only a means; it does not define Zen. Practice prepares to play a song well; it is not the song.

 

[jesed]

Hi

Then is pretty bad answer. Both hexagrams are in the past.

Better to find a guide, soon

Best wishes

 

[nhyuyi]

"Then is pretty bad answer. Both hexagrams are in the past.

Better to find a guide, soon"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


That pretty much clears it up.

Thanks Jesed.