John Tarrant : Articles
A lot of meditation is just showing up for what we have, and there is joy in that. It’s diferent from the kind of happi- ness that comes from getting what you wanted. It’s a joy that doesn’t have a good reason. It’s a joy that allows you to be sad or upset, because you’re alive in the midst of it.
John Tarrant • John Tarrant : Articles
Modern Zen teachers often emphasize how liberating this is. When the ego loosens its grip, there’s no longer a fixed self to defend. Praise and blame lose their sharp edge. Fear softens. Compassion arises naturally, not as a moral project but as a consequence of intimacy.
Shunryu Suzuki put it simply: when we let go of self-centered practice, our... See more
Shunryu Suzuki put it simply: when we let go of self-centered practice, our... See more
The Backyard Buddhist • The Death of Ego and the Persistence of Self
I learned to become less concerned with what my practice should or could be, and more simply dedicated to, as Suzuki would say, making my ‘best effort in each moment’.