By Bob Zeglovitch
The spirit of practicing wholeheartedly is central to "just sitting" meditation. This spirit also applies to our entire life. In the words of Dogen, "It is not a matter of being smart or dull, well-learned or foolish, but that when one practices wholeheartedly to find the Way, that is nothing but the accomplishment of the Way." I find these words to be encouraging. You don't have to measure up to a standard of perfection or to have an idea of accomplishing something in your meditation. Return, again and again, and do your best to fully engage with your practice. Maezumi Roshi, the founder of the Los Angeles Zen Center, commented that practicing wholeheartedly means, "to become one with whatever you do." How do you do this in your meditation? Throw your whole self--body, mind, heart and soul--into the practice of just sitting. Do this without reservation and as an expression of your life, just as it is. Sit with urgency but without expectations. Dogen captures this sense in the Fukanzazengi: "You have gained the pivotal opportunity of human form. Do not waste your time in vain. You are maintaining the essential workings of the Buddha way."
There will be times when you feel depleted or distracted and cannot give one hundred percent of yourself to the practice. In a talk I listened to recently by Norman Fischer on Dogen's Bendowa (Talk on Wholehearted Practice of the Way), he said that on those occasions where you can only give a quarter of a half of your heart, then that is okay--you should do that wholeheartedly, while being aware that you are aiming for full wholeheartedness even if you cannot martial it. This is further encouragement. Do the maximum that your circumstances permit. Then do your best to avoid judging yourself when you feel that your meditation is somehow “not good enough.”
Note: This post includes links to the referenced talk and texts.