Dogen Sangha Blog

  by Gudo NISHIJIMA

Japanese / German

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

bowing in Soto zen tradition??

Dear Master Gudo Nishijima,

I think soto zen is the right way to practice Buddhism. So i've read the Shobogenzo Zuimonki and the Fukanzazengi for some advice. i find it not possible to pactice without guidance from a master, master Dogen's masterpiecebook could not help me sitting in zazen. I live in Holland and can not find a master who can instruct me.

Now i do 108 bows a day. with my head to the floor and left on right foot, . Can you please tell me what the meaning of bowing is in the Soto zen tradition.
i hope it prepares me for a time i can practice zazen with a Master.

i hope you are well and thank you, jacco

2 Comments:

Blogger GUDO NISHIJIMA said...

Dear jacco San,

Thank you very much for your questions, and my answers are as follows.

(jacco San) I think soto zen is the right way to practice Buddhism. So i've read the Shobogenzo Zuimonki and the Fukanzazengi for some advice. i find it not possible to pactice without guidance from a master, master Dogen's masterpiecebook could not help me sitting in zazen. I live in Holland and can not find a master who can instruct me.

(Gudo) I am very sorry that I do not know any Zazen teacher in Holland, and I have my female student in Belgium, who has received my Dharma, so if you ask her the problem, I hope that there might be any kind of method, with which you can find some way to meet your teacher.

(jacco San) Now i do 108 bows a day. with my head to the floor and left on right foot, . Can you please tell me what the meaning of bowing is in the Soto zen tradition.
i hope it prepares me for a time i can practice zazen with a Master.

(Gudo) I also think that your training, which you are trying now, might be useful for you to have your legs softer for practicing Zazen, but it is completely different from Zazen, and so it is necessary for you to find your teacher in Europe.

In Soto Sect, we do not have such a kind of continuous bowings actually at all, and so I think that it is important for you to find a good teacher in your vicinity as far as possible.

My Dharma Heir's name and her email address are as follows.

Name:de Merkline Nicole de Merkline
Email address : nicoledemerkline@hotmail.com

With best wishes Gudo Wafu Nishijima



i hope you are well and thank you, jacco

9:50 PM, November 22, 2007  
Blogger jacco said...

Thank You master Nishijima, for your advice.
I will contact Nicole de Merkline.

kind greetings from holland to you, jacco

11:08 PM, November 22, 2007  

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