In this extemporaneous Q&A episode, I address these questions: What is the responsibility of Buddhists to stand for what is right? What is the difference between the Buddhist goal of “detaching from clinging and aversion” and the pathological states of detachment from reality called “dissociation?” How would you describe the desirable level of overlap between shikantaza (the zazen of just sitting) and trance?
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This is one of my question-and-answer episodes. I work my way through the questions you send by email more or less in the order I receive them (unless two or more questions relate closely to each other, then I might group them together). I don’t have too many questions waiting for next month – Two of the questions I’ve received are about practicing Zen with a disability or chronic illness, and I will be making them the subject of my next episode – so please submit your question through the podcast website! (zenstudiespodcast.com) Your question can be practical, profound, or anything in between.
Sorry – You’ll have to listen to the audio for my responses to the questions!
Back in February, Joel wrote:
I believe you covered this in an episode but I would like to hear your thoughts on it in our current context. What is the responsibility of Buddhists to stand for what is right? In this case standing against the current presidential administration. What is the role of bodhicitta in this action? I would love to hear your thoughts in general on the current situation with The United States government.
Leah wrote:
“Disassociation” is defined as a spectrum of pathological states of detachment from reality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociation_(psychology)
A friend of mine said she was afraid of Zen (zazen) because she feared this state of disassociation. I have to admit, now that I’ve looked into it, it does seem like Buddhist detachment from clinging or aversion resembles this. Could it be that disassociation is misunderstood? Maybe it’s okay? Is what we are doing in Zazen actually in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)?
My intuition tells me that Zazen is the opposite of a mental disorder. However, when faced with explaining it to this person, heck – I need some help.
On a related topic, Susi wrote:
How would you describe the desirable level of overlap between shikantaza (the zazen of just sitting) and trance?
It’s my impression that trance states are not what shikantaza is pointing toward, as the word “trance” has not come up yet in my zen studies. It’s not like I have some clear idea about what a trance state really is, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been in an official trance state. Yet, sometimes in zazen, I feel transported while noticeably dull in some of my senses (e.g. I’m definitely not at my most visually acute, in fact my eyes are often blurred). At the bell, it feels like there is a “transition” back to ordinary consciousness.
Chanting can also feel like it invokes a trance-like state…and I like how it feels.
Sorry – You’ll have to listen to the audio for my responses to the questions!
Photo Credit
Image by Okan Caliskan from Pixabay
