Lost Coin – San Francisco (National League Champions) Group
October 25, 2010  (Chris - you are note-taker for November 1)

Rebecca did the talk this evening, as Daniel was out of town.
She talked about sitting, and the student- teacher relationship.

Three good books that we should check out: (1) The Art of Just Sitting, (2) Cutting through Spiritual Materialism, and (3) Three Pillars of Zen.
In terms of pain during sitting, usually that can be cured by getting higher. Raise yourself up, get another pillow. Sitting is a flow of energy. You will create internal changes I your brain, if you sit. There is scientific evidence about this.
Sitting is like you being a rock and being shaped by the water. It won't happen without you being present and working with your teacher. Personal integrity starts to slide if you don't sit regularly. That can impact other areas.

Zazen is about sitting without an objective. Hard to balance that with other part of trying to get what you want. If you want to, experiment with zazen. Try not to listen to things or try to block out everything. You aren't always in the same state all the time. Our practice is very much in waves.

Counting the breath is good to start with then drop in the loan study (if you're doing that), once you're relaxed. Notice the myriad panorama of experiences.
“If you drink enough, you will get drunk.” It's like sitting. You don't have to work at it – this will just happen. You just need to sit, not do anything else to get it. You just need to do it.
Make sure you take advantage of daisen when we have the chance to do this. It's a good thin to be exposed and to get direction. Daniel has no interest except for your self development. Keep going, don't quit.
A teach might push you and that's good but you still have to not put someone's head above your own. You have to be available to be in it, and not be a “soldier of Zen.”