Zazen Instruction by Jisho Matsumoto
How to Sit in order to Enlighten to Truth (Satori)
About
Satori, or enlightenment, is the revelation of Truth.
Zen practice enables satori to happen.
Zen practice and satori are not difficult.
Truth has become clear to few people only because “satori,” “enlightenment,” and “correct zazen (true practice)” are not generally understood. Satori can happen to anyone, once you can sit correctly and keep up a practice. My satori is evidence of this.
Sitting correctly (zazen) is not difficult. When I reflect back on my zazen practice, however, I realize now that it took me a long time to understand how to sit correctly. The reason it took so long was because I did not understand what correct zazen actually was. Zen explanations are often hard to understand. In addition, I had many mental habits, preconceptions, and assumptions about Zen and satori, so there were times when I misunderstood what was being explained to me.
Now in my zazenkai (sitting Zen gatherings), I make it a point to convey Zen, truth, and satori in simple terms and in ways that practitioners can learn to sit more quickly. I avoid explanations that are misleading or that can be interpreted in various ways. Explanations are clear and in accordance with how practitioners understand best. Furthermore, to ensure that there is no misunderstanding, I teach correct Zen sitting and regularly check on how practitioners understand what I convey.
For this reason I often receive comments like, “I am able to sit now.” “I no longer have any doubt about my practice.” “I realize now how much unnecessary effort I was making before.”
My role is like a guide. I just so happened to practice zazen and satori happened to me before you. So I just point and say, “if you do this, satori can happen," and “if you do that, satori cannot happen.”
Jisho Matsumoto
News
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(All dates and times are Japan time. We find this time converter site easy to use.)
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[March 21] April Zazenkai with Jisho-san:
April 20 (Th) 8:00am (April 19 in N/S America)
April 23 (Sun) 18:00 -
[March 6] We're on YouTube!
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[Jan 19] New weekly zazenkai:
Every Wed night! More info here. -
[Jan 19] Upcoming zazenkai with Jisho-san:
Jan 26, 9:00am
Feb 5, 18:00
Feb 23, 9:00am
Mar 19, 18:00 (March 12th cancelled)
Mar 27, 8:00am
Reservations can be made here.
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Nov 10 TIME CHANGE
Dec 22 time changed from 8:00am to 9:00am -
Mar 15 New Blog Post, "What's really happening?"
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Mar 8 New testimonial. What people are saying about zazen with Jisho-san and Madoka.
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Mar 3 New blog post! "Form is emptiness and emptiness is form."
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Feb 9 We changed our name from "Simply Zen Online" to "Zen Online." Also a new URL.
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Feb 7 New Blog Post! "What is Zen?"
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Please reserve early. Reservations close 24 hours prior to the start of zazenkai.
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We started zazenkai twice a month! See the group zazenkai page for the schedule.
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Reservations for online zazenkai and private sessions. Feel free to contact us with questions too.
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Introductory Video
Take a look at this video for a good introduction to Zen and Zen practice.
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Requests
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Please understand that it may take a few days to respond to your inquiries, requests or comments.
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Please be timely in making reservations or cancellations.