I was introduced to Zen in June of 2018 by a friend who brought me to Jikoji and we sat in on a zazen period during a sesshin. This meditation experience for me was one of those moments where something clicks into place. Oh this is what I have been looking for! Thus began my study of Zen. As they say when the student is ready the teacher appears. In my short time at Jikoji I have attended many sesshin, most of the Saturday zazenkai and the weekly book studies. I find that since adopting a daily meditation practice I am calmer, react less and think more about what I am doing and the effects of my actions on myself and others. The stress level at my job started to decrease as I practiced in Zen. As a scientist I find the ideas in Zen and Buddhism to mesh well with my scientific training and my agnostic leanings. I find the best part of Zen to be the sangha that I am part of at Jikoji. All the readings would be useless without a group of people and teachers to practice with and be supported by.
I find the book Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck fits extremely well with my practice due to the emphasis on how to use Zen principles in our daily work. Everyday Zen is an edited version of dharma talks given Joko over several years. In her book Joko uses examples from her own life to illustrate particular teachings. For example to grasp the concept that the past, present and future are ungraspable (the Diamond Sutra) she used the example of playing the same five notes on the piano for her teacher every day for months before she finally heard them correctly. Many of the concepts in Zen are like that for me. I have to hear them many times over, actually until my head hurts and I stop trying to intellectualize, then I begin to understand. Everyday Zen covers topics that are not usually discussed in Zen texts such as love, feelings, tragedy and relationships. The difference between work and our vocation. And how hard sitting is and if we work hard enough and we are patient enough, we have some possibility of making a real contribution to the world. And how to be with the work we are doing, whatever it is as we are with the breath in sitting. Joko's unique perspective on life and Zen practice make Everyday Zen a great book to study. More.