Like twelfthnight above, I think a major point you miss is: not to do this _for_ something, but that in doing it you will experience a transformative effect. Or, reading, or meditating, is a worthy activity because in doing so the opportunity for insight and transformation increases; _not_ that this transformation is guaranteed or formulaic. I think it differs from staring or focusing on a blank wall in that one populates or fertilizes what is already there, for it to be understood or comprehended beyond it's surface application; these percolate until a mental/ emotional coffee is ready to drink! A blank wall draws on... blankness, which is, as I understand, a goal for Buddhist meditation - to empty ones mind of any fertilizer or coffee grains of thought. Different goals.

I can’t even begin to explain Zen Buddhism in response to such a comment; even if I could what would be the point? We aren’t recruiting… however as some kind of answer — what I’m about is shikantaza as prescribed by dōgen, and there is absolutely no fucking goal, as mad as that sounds…

Ten years is a long time to repeat the same mistake.

I hope you now spend your hour a day with no expectations, and I also hope you spend it outside of the cult of achy legs and standing in nature instead.

Haha, I loved this. Thanks :)

There are some folks now pushing the idea of wall meditation. Literally just grab a chair, take 10 minutes at first to just stare at a wall. See where the mind goes.

I like the idea in its simplicity to define. Chair + wall + time.

But eventually in many meditative traditions like Buddhism, a little context can be allocated as needed.

I thought you had rules against indulging in mindless entertainments (social media (hn)) and fraternizing with laypeople?

Eh? I’m not sure who the you you are referring to is but it sure doesn’t sound like me… we have no such thing.. I am a layperson…

> However as an ordained Buddhist monk...

Then perhaps you meant to say you've taken the precepts, as ordaining and a layperson taking the precepts are obviously entirely different levels of commitment.