Zen isn't something you learn

By Kenichi Matsumoto, translated by Madoka.

Knowing what is real doesn’t come from learning.

Zen Master Dogen says that zazen is not shuuzen—a practice of understanding a method and then executing it. He says it is not a method that you become able to do after learning it and then mastering it through repeated practice 

Then what is it? What is it that is not learned?

Let’s confirm right now—what is it that is actually real, but not learned.

Please put the palm of your hand on your cheek (actually do this as you read).

How is it now?

With your hand on your cheek, there is a sensation. The sensation itself is not something you learn, memorize and execute in order for it to manifest.

The way it actually is touching the cheek—the sensation itself—is the very thing that Dogen wants to convey. It is what is actually real, without self. This is the reality that the Buddha, Dogen and other Zen masters enlightened to.

This is why zazen is not a method or means. It is the way it is sitting. While sitting, if a bird chirps, “chirp” is the way it is. When facing forward, there is the actual view. The view is the way it is. Even without intending to think, thoughts and feelings arise.

This is why zazen is sitting the way seeing, hearing, thinking, and feeling are now.

Have you ever sat like this, just the way seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling, and thinking are? This is zazen, i.e. sitting as Dharma itself.

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