So, as suggested by many people on the buddhist subreddit, some time ago I decided to check out my local zen centers. I found 2 that had teachers who were direct disciples from Taisen Deshimaru. Everything was great until we got to sit. I told them that, even though I am only 27 years old, I have both a condition of chronic pain in my abdomen and a bone condition that makes them more fragile. This makes it quite hard for me to sit in a traditional posture and, therefore, I need to sit in a chair (this is what my doctor told me and also what my body tells me when I sit for more than 15 minutes in zazen). Fortunately, I can meditate sitting on a chair for over an hour without a problem.
Both centers weren't comfortable at all with the idea of me sitting in a chair, so I sat through a zazen session with pain that stayed with me for 2-3 days. Obviously, I decided not to go back to those centers. Nevertheless, there is something about zen that really attracts me, it's so simple and devoid of most (if not all) the metaphysical stuff that I have found in other schools. Is there any way in which one could practice without having a teacher? Online sanghas? There is such a huge emphasis in the books that I have been reading about finding a teacher, that it seems that without a teacher, there is no zen to be practiced.
Thank you for reading this rant, I would just like to feel understood and, if anyone can answer any of my questions, I would be very grateful.
Submitted January 03, 2020 at 04:49PM by Tom2792 https://ift.tt/37oZd2O
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