The Art of Just Sitting: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza

by John Daido Loori, Taigen Dan Leighton (Introduction)

Shikantaza--or "just sitting"--is one of the simplest, most subtle forms of meditation, and one of the most easily misunderstood. This peerless volume brings together a wealth of writings, from the Buddha himself to Bodhidharma and Dogen and many of modern Zen Buddhism's most influential masters, all pointing directly to the heart of this powerful practice. Edited by one of America's pre-eminent Zen teachers, this book is a rich resource for wisdom seekers and scholars alike.

Genres: Buddhism, Zen, Meditation, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Philosophy

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

John Daido Loori was a Zen Buddhist rōshi who served as the abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. He was the founder of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism and CEO of Dharma Communications.

Reviews

[William2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been indispensable to me as I have sought to teach myself zazen. I don’t have a teacher, so the intense clinics in shikantaza contained herein have been a godsend. It’s a collection of dharma lectures—teisho—by some two or three dozen Zen masters, some ancient, most Americans alive today. I have found the book more helpful to me than the koan school of enlightenment (Rinzai) which is described in Philip Kapleau’s The Three Pillars of Zen, which is no doubt optimal for some persons. The school represented in The Art of Just Sitting is Soto. This Soto form seems to be entirely without mention of the dreaded kyosaku, or any of Buddhism’s multifarious hells. In fact, all supernatural aspects seem to have been stripped away. The Soto school says that the moment you assume the zazen posture, you have entered a state of enlightenment. No additional striving or aspiration is necessary. You are enlightened simply by virtue of your sincere intent to practice. The teisho here are rich, literary productions in themselves, as well as vital instruction. They must represent some two or more centuries of collective Zen experience. Re-reading them soon will be necessary.

[DJ Dycus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthology of Buddhist writings on the practice of shikantaza or zazen. The authors of these "essential writings" date from the 12th century through the 20th. After reading this, I have a much better grasp of Buddhism (not to mention the practice of seated meditation. If you look at the list of "shelves" I used to capture the content of this book, you'll see just how wide-ranging this collection of writings really is.

[Johnny Cordova · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of essays on shikantaza meditation, the Zen practice of simply sitting with the mind as it arises spontaneously. A great idea for a book, but I found the selections to be repetitive, didactic, and mostly dry. A shame because shikantaza, more than any other form of meditation, lends itself to poetry and there is very little poetry between these pages.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bunch of essays and writings around the topic of 'just sitting' or 'shikantaza' or 'silent illumination'. there are a few good writings in here. but alot of it is covering the same ground which is good to hear things repeated in different ways. most of the writings touch on dogen's writings about zazen, or the lancet of seated meditation, or hongzhi's 'silent illumination'. for a deeper more poetic look into shikantaza, id recommend 'cultivating the empty field : the silent illumination of zen master hongzhi' by taigen dan leighton. mind blowing reads!

[Juan Jacobo Bernal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially thought this was going to be a super-academic text. Although it cites plenty of ancient scriptures, it did provide me with a few applicable insights that served me a lot during my last seshin.

[Jampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved it

[Ona Kiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book on Zen I've read that I just drank like water. A really nice diversity of essays. Nice commentaries on classic stories and teachings. Highly recommended.

[Levas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing collection of writings + several essential foundation texts about the phenomenon that is not describable in millions of words. I am not sure about the last statement, I can only repeat what I've read before. The diversity of texts is great - some of them are very complex, others - quite the opposite. And it was quite some time since the last time I've read something so refreshing and inspiring to sit and not question any of the experiences or thoughts. In each of these books one does not usually perceive biggest part of what is being said. But these small tiny parts that gets stuck is a great motivational force even if you are starting to get disappointed with how you sit. You just sit and that's it. For whatever reason this simple thing needs to be explained in so many words so many times. Recommended read.

[neelam · Rating 1 out of 5]

rubbish

The book is too poetic and doesn’t clearly say what it means. He also criticises other practices, typical Buddhist style 👎🏼

[Conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic resource to read not only some of the foundational texts of Soto Zen but also essays exploring some of the more complex themes. Fantastic book will likely revisit a lot.

[Ian Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent chapters which definitely make the book worth reading. Some chapters I found very hard to understand, either because of the concepts or because of the Buddhist terminology.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many important pieces. Excellent dharma.

[Garvice]

I calling it finished on page 179, which finishes the overall book without [pages 180-250+.]
(The Appendix.)

[Majolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects about a couple dozen writings on shikantaza, or just sitting meditation. The texts range over almost a millennium and have an accordingly wide range of format and style. I don’t have any qualification to discuss the content, but I can say that it might have been useful to provide a glossary for some of the technical terms.

[DoGG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compilation of essays on Shikantaza and, to some extent, Silent Illumination. Some essays better than others, but overall very useful perspectives on this method of pure awareness.

****

The method itself is the purpose. The process is the goal. It’s not a method that takes us to the goal, but the goal itself. Zazen is Buddha, zazen is enlightenment.

We put aside all concerns, shed all attachments, and make ourselves as plain as possible, like a clean sheet of paper. We then just sit serenely, letting go of all that comes up, staying constantly present in zazen no matter what happens, abandoning all thoughts of life, body, fears, desires – everything but the method.

We sit with our whole body and our whole mind, becoming the sitting ourselves. The sitter and sitting are the same thing – just sitting. It’s not you doing zazen, but zazen doing zazen.

[James Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing compendium of writings on the type of Zen meditation known as "shikantaza" - the practice of sitting with full awareness, neither attaching to thoughts nor trying to suppress thought, without any particular object of focus - despite its seeming simplicity, it is regarded as one of the most challenging meditations, and can be quite difficult to wrap your head around. This book, compiled by the late master John Daido Loori features some of the best writings on the subject, primarily in the tradition of Zen masters Hongzhi and Dogen - wherein practice and enlightenment are seen as being inseparable - to wholeheartedly sit is itself the manifestation of the buddha seal.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to find out about Zen Buddhism, there are other books that will give you a good introduction. If you have an established sitting practice, then this is probably the best practical manual available.

Because it's an anthology of short pieces from the Buddha onwards, the teachings are from a wide variety perspectives on a wide variety of issues, so whatever help you need, you stand a good chance of finding it here.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the articles in this anthology were worth reading; some were mediocre, and a couple were Zen obscurantism at its worst. And to add to the problem, the connection between the supposed subject and some of the selections was a bit strained. This one shouldn't go on anybody's "must read" list.

[Walter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As noted by others some essays are hard to "get into" but on the whole it give a great deal if insight into the purpose and practice do Zazen. It is a book I will visit later as my practice progresses.

[Monkey C · Rating 3 out of 5]

great book, but not for the beginner. some zen training required to understand the principles/concepts expressed.

[Tom Otvos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the essays were quite hard to penetrate, others very interesting or useful. Very much a reference that can be consulted many times over.

[Tim Weakley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good selection of texts relating to shikantaza, or sitting meditation. I really enjoyed the mixture of early, and modern masters and what they had to say. It improved my personal practice.