A deep bow and thanks to everyone for joining us.

cannot see Nannete better lighting?

reshaping our practice: yes, that resonates :)

I have a question about how to best hold my arms if there is time :)

Thank you!

Maybe a large mirror could help?

Quotes from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

Posture: “The most important thing is to own your own physical body. If you slump, you will lose yourself. Your mind will be wandering about somewhere else; you will not be in your body. This is not the way. We must exist right here, right now! This is the key point. You must have your own body and mind. Everything should exist in the right place, in the right way. Then there is no problem.”

Breath: “If you think, ‘I breathe,” the “I” is extra. There is no you to say “I.” What we call “I” is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. It just moves, that is all. When your mind is pure and calm enough to follow this movement, there is nothing: no “I,” no world, no mind or body, just a swinging door.”

Thoughts: “If you want to obtain perfect calmness in your zazen, you should not be bothered by the various images you find in your mind. Let them come, let them go. Then they will be under control.”“We say concentration, but to concentrate your mind on something is not the true purpose of Zen. The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes. This is to put everything under control in its widest sense.”“When you are practicing zazen, do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. If something comes into your mind, let it come in, and let it go out. It will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything.”“You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. This mind is called big mind.”

Thanks Olivia :)

Nicola we normally send links to recordings of our programs if that helps you go through them at your own speed.

Thanks yes I look forward to listening to the recording at a less busy time. \

The Four Horses The Marrow of Zen: “When you are determined to practice zazen with the great mind of Buddha, you will find the worst horse is the most valuable one. In your very imperfections you will find the basis for your firm, way-seeking mind.”“When you are sitting in the middle of your own problem, which is more real to you: your problem, or you yourself? The awareness that you are here, right now, is the ultimate fact. This is the point you will realize by zazen practice. In continuous practice, under a succession of agreeable and disagreeable situations, you will realize the marrow of Zen and acquire its true strength.”

Upaya’s next online program will be a Hidden Lamp Study Group. Aug 8th 11-12:30 mountain time . Click the link for more info. https://www.upaya.org/program/hidden-lamp-study-group-online-2020/?id=2328