Zazen, Shikantaza and the Soto Tradition of Dogen

The world is entering a new phase, a phase in which we are finding out the nature of the reality in which we live; not a world only of the mind, nor a world of material substance alone. This is the reason why many people are now showing an interest in Buddhist belief. However, the real world is beyond description, and this is the reason that both Buddha and Master Dogen urged the practice Zazen. Zazen reveals the true nature of reality to us. We are compelled to think about what is impossible to think about. This is the fundamental reason why we must take time out and just sit, nothing more. "In this moment of sitting look into what sitting in itself is. Is it turning a somersault? Is it a state of vigorous activity? Is it thinking? Is it not thinking? Is it doing something? Is it not doing anything? Is there sitting inside of sitting? Is sitting inside of the body/mind? Is sitting free of 'sitting inside' and 'inside of the body/mind'? Master Dogen