"Do Nothing" Meditation ~ Shinzen Young

Shinzen talks about the technique he calls "do nothing," which is associated with what other traditions call Choiceless Awareness, Just Sitting, the Great Perfection (Dzogchen), and Mahamudra. Shinzen's instructions for how to do this are: "Let whatever happens, happen. As soon as you're aware of an intention to control your attention - drop that intention."
00:05 - Techniques with effort and without, techniques with choices and without
01:04 - Choiceless awareness, just sitting, the great perfection (Dzogchen), and the grand symbol (Mahamudra) are all related to the Do Nothing technique.
01:59 - With time, the Do Nothing technique is designed to create a sensitivity to the circuit that controls attention and an environment so that that circuit will turn itself off for a while
04:02 - Confusion is a strong arising from the place of choice
05:20 - The subtleties of the Do Nothing instruction, "Let whatever happens, happen. As soon as you're aware of an intention to control your attention - drop that intention."
08:00 - If you can't drop the intention to control your attention, no problem, because the technique isn't asking you to do that.
09:30 - "If noting makes you racey, do nothing. If do nothing makes you spacey, try noting."
09:53 - You are not being asked to willfully monitor your attention.
10:36 - Gomme (sgom med)
11:50 - With time, you pinpoint whatever is in us that decides to initiate, suppress, direct, or pursue thoughts
12:36 - You are not meditating, "spirit" and the momentum of concentration, sensory clarity, and equanimity meditate you.
14:27 - In the future, we may be able to induce this experience of freedom from the limited identity from the outside
Filmed at a group process in Jan. 2010 at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, C.A.
As a contrast and compliment, see:
How to do Labeling and Noting During Meditation, 1 of 2 Parts ~ Shinzen Young
• How to do Labeling and...
How to do Labeling and Noting During Meditation, Part 2 of 2, Zooming ~ Shinzen Young
• How to do Labeling and...
See also:
Bear Down or Ease Up in Meditation? ~ Shinzen Young
• Bear Down or Ease Up i...
Don't Know Mind: Not Needing to Have Answers & the Wisdom Function ~ Shinzen Young
• Don't Know Mind: Not N...
Hacking enlightenment: can ultrasound help you transcend reality?
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tricycle.org/trikedaily/brain...

[@ikamy]

2023 and after 12 years it's still the best beginner meditation guide I've ever watched " Drop the intention to control the attention "

[@Dima-mc9ue]

I started practicing meditation about 4 years ago. Mostly it was body-scanning minfulness meditation. I started because of anxiety disease, panic attacs and bipolar depression. My first psychiatrist was awful and couldn't help me with that problems. Sometimes meditation helped me to relax, but mostly it just made me sad, because I always lost my concentration. I did it 2-3 times a week. Half a year after I discovered 'do nothing' technique and additional practice of strong determination sitting. First months weren't something special. I had some relaxation after 20-30 mins of sitting, but it I can't say it made a big difference. Maybe it was because of depression episode, maybe it was something else. For some reason I decided to increase the time I sit to 30+ mins per day and started to do meditations every day. And the results impressed me so much. I just stopped to resist or to avoid the symptoms, thoughts and bad feelings I had. My life became completely different. I became many times more calm, concentrated and happy, than ever before. For the last two months, hypomania and depression sympthoms became many times softer. First time in 6 years I have remission and I don't need any drugs to work and stay calm. Big thanks to Shindzen Young for showing this technique. I'm so lucky to find it, because there's no any articles or videos about 'do nothing' in russian- and ukrainian-speaking internet.

[@JazzyDef]

Дим, привет). Имеет ли место в этой практике полное расслабление лица, особенно глаз, даже по ощущениям передней коры мозга? Просто я так делаю и тогда внимание будто немного приглушено, мысли не могут пройти, просто потому-что если расслабляешь эти места вниманием, то мысли возникают, но как бы расстворяются в этой расслабленной осознанности будто, точнее внимание просто не питает их, они не получают топлива и просто уходят. Ну и само внимание (или намерение скорее) становится таким никаким, ленивым, что не идёт уже никуда особо, хотя периферийная осознанность есть и она замечает возникающие феномены. В общем, это связано с расслаблением глазных яблок очень. И ещё симптом - очень приятное ощущение в районе глазниц, посередине, внутри головы. Будто мозг тотально отдыхает от постоянного уделения внимания всему. То есть вот этот древний механизм (рептильный мозг?) из-за отпускания/расслабления намерения - отключается будто постепенно. Такой чувствуется холодок даже приятный в области передней части головы. Даже замечаю, как после изнурительных практик других подсаживаю на это ощущение). Думаю вот, правильно ли я делаю. У меня как бы автоматически включается эта техника после дичайших танцев с рызными видами випассанан, концентраций. То есть когда уже сильно устаю от попыток успокоить ум или даже просто управлять вниманием и тогда эта техника "случается" (meditating you). Обычно это после недели-двух ретрита. Будто делаешь максимальные усилия, а потом сдаешься, потому-что нихрена ты не контроллируешь все равно). Будто внимание кладешь рядом, сдаешься, медитатора кидаешь). А если я без расслабления делаю, то это будто кошка наблюдает за норой мышки, и мысли забирают часто. А я с ним (вниманием) отождествлен и от этого больно, типа, какого хрена "оно само меня тащит" куда-то, куда "я" не просил). Просто привычка миллионов лет, ощущение такое). Как у тебя?

[@bzzzvzzze]

[@pvsk10]

This is by far the most popular video of Shinzen's. This probably resonates with most people. Adyashanti calls this 'True Meditation' and has a book by that name as well. A small excerpt from it "If you try to win the war with your mind, you'll be at war forever". He describes his Zen practice and how initially his meditation was a struggle, like a war with his mind, with a lot of control and Will involved. As he felt it is not working out, he describes how he investigated in his experience what truly letting go of control meant. "I started to meditate in a different way. I let go of the idea of what meditation was supposed to be. So I would sit down and let my experience simply be, in a very deep way. I started to let go of trying to control my experience. That became the beginning of discovering for myself what True Meditation is. From that point on, that shift - moving from trying to perfect a technique or discipline to actually letting go of technique and discipline - started to inform the way I engage in meditation"

[@sockneman]

Wonderful. Love this!

[@stefan744]

Thanks for that man. Much love.

[@tmcconkie]

This video is one of countless examples of Shinzen's teaching prowess. He takes such a subtle, slippery topic, defines a scope and useful terms, and elucidates as few people ever have. A deep bow to Shinzen for all his pioneering.

[@SmokeyEdits]

Hey, sorry this is a reply from the future, but you're right... I don't think I've ever learned so much about something AND myself while watching a video like this. Don't get me wrong, the information is amazing and I'm loving this so far, but man his delivery is so much like a teacher's that it kinda made me start "doing nothing" in the middle of the video. Super nice, I love it. Cheers from a disease-ridden 2021.

[@hear-and-know]

@@SmokeyEdits I'm from the farther future, and Shinzen's "equanimity ultrassound machines" along with Jay shows his genius once more :)

[@joshli5309]

@@hear-and-know I'm from an even farther future, hi

[@MrTypingsound]

I've practised Buddhism and meditation for about 9 years. This was the first meditation ever taught to me, by a native american. Then later I discovered it in the Mahamudra teachings. Now, I am free from most of the dogma of Buddhism, and yet I've found myself back at this meditation. It is very effective, and cause the mind to sink down into more subtle levels and experience deepening levels of bliss.

[@MrTypingsound]

@John M. I think the native American that taught me has borrowed a lot from all over the place. He was quite influenced by Christian gnosticism, and so the mediation was akin to waiting upon the Holy Spirit. I am now a Christian myself and I've fallen in love with Christianitys rich contemplative tradition. The practice I do now is like the Quakers, I sit still before God, and I have found a fullness in this I had never known before. To my surprise Christ came to me in a very tangible way and has transformed my life from the inside out. Good luck in your seeking brother, I hope you find what you are truly looking for.

[@tim57243]

​​@@MrTypingsound Can you say more about your tangible interactions with Christ? Is this the sort of tangible where you could make an interesting video of it? I always cherish first hand accounts of things.

[@trombonecoach]

Fifteen minutes of incredible depth and perception.

[@invincible_souls]

This is something I have been naturally doing. I've never felt drawn to do traditional meditation. This doing nothing technique has helped me connect to my Higher Self and I've received so much insight, ideas and inspiration from doing this technique over the past 4 years. :)

[@mariodemon]

I've naturally "discovered it" also, from being so tired of doing someting!

[@ira4600]

​@@mariodemonme too!

[@adamkagan1066]

Thank you so much for posting these videos.

[@zenmaster5088]

Shinzen's instructions are so clear. Thanks a ton for sharing this !!

[@giniaa2707]

Very helpful! I appreciate the honest and practical tips Shinzen gives.

[@brattyhack]

Thank you for explaining this so well!

[@katzbedu]

Very clear Instruction on what to do and what not to ! Didn't find this clarity so far anywhere.

[@ommanipadmehum3143]

Great teaching! For the liberation of all sentient beings

[@DURWINFOSTER]

truly brilliant meditation teacher and a generous human being!

[@elb0wroom]

Was looking for some extra guidance on Shikantaza -- so clear and precise! Thanks Shinzen.

[@goontai9th]

@@royyouness yes shikantaza is the "just sitting"

[@royyouness]

@@goontai9th do you mean "do nothing" is the same as "just sitting"?

[@goontai9th]

@@royyouness yeah that's the meaning of doing nothing, the 'za' part means sitting. As opposed to other buddhist practice where certain intentions, mantras etc. are involved.

[@royyouness]

@@goontai9th thanks for that🙏🏻

[@goontai9th]

@@royyouness no worries :) bless

[@susieq984]

This is my third time listening so I can really pick up all of it

[@ByJonathanLeung]

SUCH CLEAR!

[@rosalieargenta364]

This was so helpful thank you for the clear precise explanation . I’m sure I’ve heard that in the past. But your reminder was tremendous. Rosalie

[@MagdiNonDuality]

Dropping your intention is simply the noticing of intention. Due to the noticing, there is an effortless dropping. The entire process must be fueled by love for truth and not by personal intention for a personal gain.

[@TheDark-jh1do]

Magdi Badawy god why say this

[@cheeseballs4255]

@@TheDark-jh1do what do you mean?

[@TheDark-jh1do]

Koeke Loere I just get bother by this anyone can do the technique they don’t have to be on love everyone probably wants personal gain

[@cheeseballs4255]

@@TheDark-jh1do yeah, I agree. I also don't get what people like Shinzen mean when they say that stuff about love.

[@freepiratequeen]

Koeke Loere Maybe it means not coming from separation, or ego mind? The trouble is that the word has ramifications aligned to romantic relationships. I always think of it as truth or a universal cement that holds everything together. Personally I find it easier to contrast it to fear. So if you’re meditating for personal gain it’s more fear-oriented than love. That’s the trouble with the ego mind - it’s so damn tricky!

[@bzzzvzzze]

This video is big one for me. I am right in that position in my awareness practice. Thank you!

[@BarbarraBay]

Nirvana is defined as the end of craving, here-&-now. "Doing nothing" meditation is the direct practice of ending craving, here-&-now, which will naturally manifest tranquility-&-insight (samatha-&-vipassana). 'Transcendence' means 'lokuttara', i.e., being physically in the word but with a mind beyond the world (untouched by the world).

[@DilbagSingh-sp2yp]

That's a beautifull true fact one stumbles upon once you have enough of being a perfect worker of the Mr. Mind factory and somehow you quit following all those crazy instructions and so are finally fired, and as time passes by and you keep basking at home doing nothing , nirvana flowers tickling your lazy belly making the house full of laughters.

[@randomseed]

Tried that couple of times. For me it's similar to sutra mahamudra but there is that operational trust (in what's going on) to true nature, whereas in mahamudra there is more of a perceptional trust. This is like TAXI drive. The only thing one have to do is to hold back from taking over a steering wheel of the driver. Love it!

[@asanalikumar6162]

This video has answered my exact question. Thanks a lot, it was very helpful🙏

[@siddhi9075]

I love This video..."do nothing" is Basically how I live 24/7 now it's been A bit more Than 2 Years...🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Thx for The guidance Mr. Young 🙏

[@nicolasnake9819]

Im glad I found this Zen teacher, he is absolutely GREAT and helps me make sense of a lot of teachings together, teachings that involve doing and non doing. MUCH LOVE 🙏💜☯️

[@shitalbhattadgondhali8723]

thank you so much

[@seeker6389]

I used this technique around 2 years ago and felt great bliss, I’ve fallen off from meditation but I’m slowly getting back to it!

[@geovaniraffaelli4508]

Hello brother, are you still meditiating?

[@nicolasfieldsoundservices]

looking forward to exploring this technique

[@Heartbeat1948]

I was just on one of Shinzen teleconference retreats lead by Stephanie Nash and we worked with this "Do nothing"...hard to now what it is if you have not practiced. I had tried it before and it was okay, but today it was amazing. But then I have been meditating for many years. basicmindfulness for teleconference retreats every month

[@thelightofsight9038]

Ahhhhhh...the wisdom of Bankei right here in Shinzen!

[@islamtanvir9230]

great video

[@Theone-ou2xt]

This was a very deep video ,loved it ,this is something i am experimenting with currently since a month .I will know how much this will help in the future.

[@anamartins4436]

Inspiring!🔥

[@annettenorris412]

Thank you😊😊

[@epicbehavior]

A quick way to realize there was never a “you” controlling anything to begin with.

[@ksmith709]

I would like to hear shinzen discuss how this might compare to how "just sitting" is taught in some other places, where there is still some effort to be present, but it is very light and open.

[@karan200590]

this is one of the techniques in kashmir shaivism under shaktopaya, where you work with the maya or the energy principle. beautiful.

[@ramirocosta1]

great explanation. been practicing that for a a while. love it.

[@qwacs]

good stuff!

[@Heartbeat1948]

Shinzen's "system" in it's many facets has helped me since 2003. I have gone in and out of working with the practices because I would come to a point where I thought this is too mental and where's the love on and on. Recently I have groked that all of it was resistance to working with practices that are tried and true. In listening to some of the folks out there who are teach whatever and have comments about mindfulness or similar I realize that they have never really experienced "mindfulness" practice. If they had, like I have, maybe there could be some real dialogue and comments. For me I have tended towards focusing on heart practices for many many years and then finding myself coming back again and again.

[@nfcoard]

+Yvonne Garcia By heart practices you mean focusing on compassion, kindness and gratitude right?

[@RealistReviewer]

I used to do this allot as a child and teenager naturally, since I found it beneficial, I only came to this realization after starting this meditation, then it was all very familiar and very nice to come back to. What is always interesting is what the eyes see during this technique, from greater clarity of image, to different lighting, to everything seemingly becoming lots of little things moving around energetically... what happens is always interesting.

[@enterthevoidIi]

Don't waste time on images. They are not interesting but useless

[@kwixotic]

For several years I was involved with this open eye, simple sitting in the state of Great Perfection(or Dzogchen) as he calls it. Helpful of course but ultimately I found it still lacking as far as addressing and uprooting Vasanas(or Samskaras if one subscribes to thoughts from a previous life) so I then "evolved" into Self Inquiry of the sort associated with Nisargadatta Maharaj(the "I am" practice). This entails directing the meditation onto the meditator.

[@iloverumi]

great talk. thanks for posting. i really appreciate the level of detail and precision in the discussion and instructions. also, this is absolutely fundamentally different from the "Great Perfection" or dzogchen. although this style meditation is very often confused with it.

[@IRLiAm]

In what way is it different? Can you elaborate a little?

[@iloverumi]

I can share a bit. I recommend Alan Wallace (he has a new book and an online course on Dzogchen) or some other authentic Dzogchen teacher if you are interested in exploring Dzogchen further. And I mean no disrespect to Shinzen who is a wonderful, passionate, probing teacher. I really enjoy his fresh, empirical, rigorous, demystifying approach to the subject. Simply put, to practice Dzogchen the "View" is required. The "View" refers to the perspective of "rigpa" or "pristine awareness" (sometimes the terms "buddha nature" or "dharmakaya" are used synonymously with pristine awareness; or we could simply say "our absolute ground"). Reality, when viewed from the perspective of pristine awareness or our absolute ground, is apprehended as a "Great Perfection" (which is what the word "Dzogchen" is often translated as). The practice of Dzogchen, then, involves resting in the View and viewing reality from that perspective. Of course, to rest in the View and to view reality from that perspective, one must first learn to access the View (I believe the term "vidyadhara" is used in some traditions to refer to one who has become able to access the View). The difference, then, is that Dzogchen requires that the practitioner access, rest in, and view reality from the perspective of pristine awareness; and that is fundamentally different from choiceless awareness or open awareness or other types of awareness or attention. This is a big area of confusion and the techniques are often mistaken for one another. On a personal note, although I would encourage you to find an authentic, useful teacher if you are interested in Dzogchen, I wouldn't let the lack of one hold you back from exploring the subject or practice. Imho, you can learn to access the View on your own or with the aid of books, videos, etc. (I've known many people who have done this). And once you are able to access or experience the View, then you can simply rest in it and experience reality from the perspective of the View- most likely, this will follow naturally. Great question and good luck!

[@brown09]

The "Do Nothing" Meditation instruction is “Let whatever happens happen. As soon as you're aware of an intention to control your attention - drop that intention” The key here seems to be “intention” What is quite clear is that, first, we have to be sensitive to what intention feels like before the dropping can take place. The seeing of the arising of an intention, say for example before I move my hand is a subtle affair, that probably requires a pretty quiet mind.

[@elhekoyya]

Should eyes be open or closed?

[@pvsk10]

But as Shinzen points out, there is no requirement that you monitor or intend to see the arising of intention, only when you are aware of itnaturally, you drop it

[@ruhmankhalid6675]

@Max Gun try doing it after the noting meditation, works wonders for me

[@lawrencegregory4605]

You don't have to practice being aware of your breath or do any technique because that still implies that you're doing something. There really is nothing you have to do or change. Just allow everything to be as it is. Allow your mind to do whatever it desires.

[@vpd2121]

But what to do when I have OCD ugh, it's so horrible that those thoughts even cause extreme anxiety....

[@crrtpf]

Thats what we do basically when we lie down for night sleep and at the end flow of thoughts break into our minds and we can not sleep or relax

[@PreacherLevi]

ET brought me here .

[@eaglelight108]

I am new....just found this now.....very interested.

[@AndreasDelleske]

I thought every meditation is / should be like this. Just drop all objects and labels including the dropper. For me, this is one the best or even the best explanation ever. Re-listen to it. What a loveable human. Thank you.

[@Mystrage]

I was able to this type Meditation When I was between 5-9yr old I saw and knew everything and became 1 with god in that state. but as soon I would make any thought or took any action I came out of it. I so miss the state of being, been looking for it every second since.

[@sockneman]

🙏 Thank you Shinzen!

[@hear-and-know]

On the off chance that someone might read this: what about the momentum he mentions, built from previous practices? This is by far the technique I like most, but sometimes I wonder: what if my previous training wasn't enough for meditation to meditate itself to a good degree? Thanks for your attention

[@themichaelofrosen6241]

Very descriptive

[@nusphere]

very well described :D

[@nusphere]

I have no knowledge of these canons (I'm sure they are great). I have only direct experience. I've explored a wide range of mediation techniques and most appear needlessly contrived. From my experience the true nature that you speak of is revealed when control is relinquished :)

[@brown09]

How do I experience an intention? Example, I am sitting down and want to stand up. Before I get up, If I have the eyes closed, I may see an image of the legs. In addition. there may also be an experience of contraction on the right shoulder, abdomen , knees and calves. So in my experience, intention is experienced as an image and bodily sensations. Once I stand up that image and sensations disappear. i.e the Intention disappears. How do I let go of that intention? Instead of standing up if the image and the bodily sensations are seen and let go without acting on it then that intention (image and bodily sensations) has been dropped…

[@DavidSoyez]

the key to understand is being aware of controlling your attention, that means your attention is just there without any control or judgement. Then there are two possibilities, you can be aware or not that your attention will/are being controlled: If you are aware of an intention to control your attention, then drop it. Otherwise let it happen when the intention has already happend. You must not maintain a state of "intentions dropper" It's only when you are aware of it and you would be doing something instead of nothing. What to keep in mind is that this method prevent creating a barrier to the mind that would definitely break at some point anyway making this medthod useless. You don't play/trick with your mind and thoughts or it comes back to you like a boomrang. i havent try yet but this technique seems to develop a non-judgement mind and separate the thoughts from the conscience.

[@Gangstawalk1]

David Soyez this is the direct path

[@NanaNana-jj2wt]

I don't know why people use complicated word to describe the simple things, i set in my room for half an hour alone looking at the wall and I don't intend to do anything and thats all :0it really help my mind and soul

[@mokuho]

Your explain its better than shinzen master...

[@mokuho]

Thanks for you explanation its very clear, and unforgetable...

[@ernestweber5207]

That is a useful synopsis of your experiential point of view concerning the practice. It is the gaze, in Dzogchen and it is that simple in essence and a core practice in a nutshell. However, there is another aspect to non-meditation and non-action. With any art or practice, technique is a factor and can naturally more refined and basic. There is just sitting, or the gaze, and then there is an existential living of a particular path or modality, as per form is emptiness and emptiness is form, or the already actual unity of ultimate and relative, or super-factual and fiction. Now, in the situation you describe with not doing, if you recognize your true nature and are thoroughly convinced of it, (which is a second step) then you may come to realize the potential to remain, distracted in your natural predisposition at all times to the point that everything that is absent but appearing is display and non-action or stillness is your modality. That is where what you are referring to as complicated comes into focus and becomes practical in respect to non-duality. In other words, from where you are practicing now, you can realize your capacity, not for limitation to simplicity, but also a heightened and expanded sense of its direct relationship to complexity since they are polar concepts and in relation by way of the excluded middle. There are antidotes to the tendency of polarized encounters with extremes and there is that which is true nature as luminous mind beyond concepts and expression. So, yes, that was rather long and drawn out, but it is offered as a means to expand on the endless unfolding of the sky-like mind which is beyond ends and beginnings, so, what limits do we imagine? What can be imposed on the ornamentation of spacious being? Technique plays into that amazing dance and you can sit that one out or step into it just as it is. Wisdom and skillful means may be two aspects of the same thing, but can also go immediately beyond acceptance and rejection as natural perfection in the now. Good Fortune!

[@anonymousprivate116]

Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in the USA for really delving into Zazen and in particular the "just sitting" variety :)

[@AndreKatov]

@@ernestweber5207 wth did you just said?

[@wowalhamdhulillah2494]

excellent probably

[@mokuho]

Marvelous...

[@islamtanvir9230]

Nice

[@philmcdonald6088]

your present awareness is nirvana.

[@BatOrgilBatsaikhan]

do you try to be aware during the meditation? or literally do nothing and get immersed in wherever your thoughts are pulling? because if I try to be aware during the meditation, as soon as I am aware of the thought, the thought bubble pops.

[@juricakalcina987]

Something i resonate with. I was finding it difficult when noting through what i believed to be dukkha nanas and realised I was very confused & somewhat overwhelmed?! I thought what do i do now? All sources point to the "nothing technique". It made me feel fearful and lost and then i decided to just sit and i started to notice the thought "you have to note". It got to the point where the practice of noting even lead to a source of "becoming", self, attachment. All i did was gently notice this phenomena and practice was a lot more pleasant! Thank you to all these great teachers that through their love, compassion and knowledge are able to share with us direct teachings that penetrate to the core of practice!!

[@VeritableVagabond]

Did you experience SE?

[@susieq984]

Same!!!! Noting made me go CRAZY! I was so confused haha

[@susieq984]

@@VeritableVagabond what’s that?

[@juricakalcina987]

I wrote that 3 years ago and have absolutely no idea what I meant! Noting now is a life line. It gives me clarity. Doesn’t make me confused or fearful anymore. I still experience shit stuff but there’s a lot less doubt, fear and anxiety about the practice. Those emotions still come up though but there’s less suffering.

[@juricakalcina987]

@@susieq984 stream entry. I’m not even going to attempt to explain it because I really don’t know what it is but look it up.

[@insight7483]

The missing key to this convo is when doing nothing the only thing you do is what’s obvious and required at first and with practise you can slowly dissvole these principles and let them occure naturally

[@koffeeblack5717]

I'm confused by all these comments about this talk being overly mental, wordy, or complicated. Maybe not all Dharma talks are meant for all people? If this doesn't work for you, find another talk. For me Shinzen gave a clear analysis of the paradox involved with 'doing nothing'. If you want something even simpler there are plenty of sources.

[@Astromythlete]

Exactly. Shinzen is on the intellectual side of monks and he tends to have a rich articulative vocabulary and his own unique set of lexicons. If they don't understand him; fuck off and go to Sadhguru then.

[@koffeeblack5717]

@@golgipogo Don't give a thirsty person just sugar, and don't give a feinting person just water. If a source doesn't suit your spiritual needs, there are other sources that provide the nourishment you require. Why is there spiritual complexity? Because there are complex individuals. Not all diets are for all people. Do not judge that others fail to serve just because they serve people different from yourself. Hope you find your mana suitable to your own needs, friend. Find the truth, and kindred spirits will flock to your message.

[@susieq984]

Truth! This is the best video I’ve found period!

[@Meditation-easy]

Let go of anger. Let go of pride. When you are bound by nothing You go beyond sorrow.

[@kimbouss]

Does anyone know if the meditation is to be used exclusively for a period of time or can it be combined with other techniques in a given period ? Do you use Do Nothing technique for long period of time like months exclusively or is it just at certain times ?

[@nusphere]

True meditation is the opposite of concentration

[@alexilaiho8534]

Wdym?

[@TheLouissuper]

Is there a "true" meditation ? Jhana practice is not better or worse than "Do Nothing / Shikantaza

[@jacobtwomey3230]

OMG THE END

[@mrboobiesrider9212]

The practice is surprisingly effective, this should be the default meditation technique to learn not mindfulness

[@jadenoasis2618]

You need to be mindful to realize that you have a subtle intention.

[@Woodzal]

Would you recommend this technique to beginners or is it better to recommend focused attention techniques?

[@krisissocoollike]

Who can give an example of being aware of an intention? When you think about something, and then realise you are purposefully thinking about something else to go along with it? Isn't that the same as clearing your mind?

[@MrTypingsound]

In my experience, I reach a point where my body loses all discomfort and feels light as air. And I feel like a fountain of bliss at my heart center. It feels great, but there is a point where I become afraid. I'm afraid that I'll lose control of my body, if I go deeper. Is this the case, or can we still move our body at any point?

[@DPSAX95]

First time (not)doing this and I probably am on the right track cause I never sleep with meditation of any kind but now I jumped cause I fell into sleep before even he stopped talking. Any tips? Should I just go back to noting?

[@richardhenrywhitehurst3793]

Thank you for the share and the insightful instructions and phrases. Regarding new developments in neuroscience see: 'default mode network'.

[@martijnhel2932]

I believe it is important to understand that you should not start meditating with this technique. First start with zazen breath mediation of mindfullness meditation. If things actually start to make sense (which it won’t right away) and you start to get a feel for what it is like to reach a state of nothing you can try to start do nothing meditation.

[@seanvasquez523]

It’s interesting because for me I found breathing very difficult. I can do this technique much more naturally which might be more rare

[@books1648]

Look into fruition practices such as mahamudra, dzogchen and shikantaza and re-evaluate your position. "Needing" to "penetrate through" this "psycho-physical body" reduces oneself to a willful doer that separates and fortifies the very reality of the body-mind in which a doer finds its niche. By relaxing out of the center of such a doer one's "absolute" nature is revealed... The "doing nothing" of the kind Shinzen speaks of takes the floorboards out from under you...

[@LienoGenesis]

I never meditated before will this work?

[@chuckbeattyo]

Foot holds to the do nothing technique? Are there handy foot holds anyone's used successfully? Meaning? Time? Are they foot holds? 07:20 Good advice

[@DATsright1122]

This sounds stupid to everyone I tell it to but I've been trying to do nothing for years now. Maybe this will help. Does anyone know how many days or months it takes for this to start working?

[@DATsright1122]

+Love is the Path - Andy Owings Great comment. I realized a little while ago that my obsession with time was one of the things holding me back. I'm trying to be in the moment more nowadays. I think the more I can be in the moment the more I can balance my ego mind with my feeling mind.

[@nickknowles8402]

From. Nothing comes nothing, HARD TRUTH TO ACCEPT😊

[@mujaku]

Only when nirvana is the object of meditation is meditation considered to be supramundane or lokuttara, otherwise it's worldly meditation. Supramundane meditation sees the uncompounded nature (samkhatadhamma) which is the meaning of nirvana.

[@BarbarraBay]

I already explained Nirvana is the cessation of craving. Buddha taught any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors - right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort & right mindfulness - is called noble right [lokuttara] concentration. (Maha-cattarisaka Sutta).

[@SweetNonExistence]

Thank you /|\

[@InnerLuminosity]

The kingdom of HEAVEN is WITHIN!

[@nafisemehdipour3575]

Hello! I have a question about this technique and is if we can yield the same result by watching a very long movie (watching series in a row) just by sitting and not moving? as when we watch a movie we are absorbed and less feel the pain or sleepiness of the body.

[@randomseed]

I was wondering about that too one day. IMHO when you watch a movie there are this micro-choices to stay with the story and to track what's happening. The attention is bound to it making person not being aware of all other stuff (internally and externally). Therefore, there is less or no chance for the awareness to take a look at itself using this body and this consciousness as channel.

[@acatssoftnose3940]

How does this differ from daydreaming? For if I'm doing nothing, should daydreaming happen, wouldn't I just let it happen?

[@ITSbigwillystyle]

This is zen.

[@ncc931]

is it?

[@ncc931]

but zen asks to focus on breath.... no?

[@haggishead7558]

How compatible is this type of meditation with vipassana slash mindfulness?

[@theperkyvictim550]

What is the Long term benefits of this vs fx mindfullness?

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

"doing nothing" is not the same as "non-doing." I fear that some people will not differientiate the important nuance.

[@nusphere]

agreed

[@books1648]

If you're not recognizing the non-striving, non-doing, resting in the moment, non-reactive quality of self-less, limitless being as an immediate, direct, present-moment experience (not as some traditional quote from Scripture), then you're "missing the pith or essence of Buddhism."

[@MartinWedgwood]

I won't be doing neither nothing nor anything. And I certainly won't be doing nothing at all right now. Nothing is too complicated...

[@TQsktkg-jfgnfnfj]

Hi everyone when doing this technique and I have a though I fear should I allow my mind distract myself with another thought? If I interfere with my mind distracting myself from this scary thought and force myself to face the scary thought, am I not doing something?

[@mujaku]

The Way is comprehended in the Mind; how can sitting in meditation be concerned with the Way? - Zen Master Hui-neng (from the Ching-te ch’uan teng lu)

[@Mariuss676]

with open eyes?

[@sanekabc]

The directive to drop the intention is an intention.

[@nidaf1597]

Lol do you think you said something smart? 😂 If you dont drop your intention because dropping it would be an intention, then thats also just an intention. This practice is designed to learn to just recognize when your intention to control attention rises up and learning to not do what feels tempting, you might need that after falling for such a stupid idea your mind brought up.

[@iOwnzNubz1]

It sounds like you literally do just sit there. At least that's how it seems to me. What's the difference between what Shinzen says and what I just said "sit there"???

[@sharmaupasana4520]

its same..just sit there and do nothing .. no attachments to thoughts,no complaints for the pain...just see whatever happens happens. do nothing.

[@malikmalikov149]

Can I do it with eyes closed???

[@igorg.8624]

~"The momentum of what you have done previously". Very true. So do we need to break this momentum?

[@akaATK]

Break the momentum if the momentum is unwholesome (ie based on craving and aversion). Otherwise build the momentum. Makes sense?

[@igorg.8624]

thanks!

[@yoooyoyooo]

If I have an aversion toward solving complex problems. If it makes me anxious and bored and I'm not interested at all. What do you suggest I do?

[@akaATK]

Hard to give individualized advice online. I would need to know what you've already tried. But very generally speaking... the first step is that you need to make a serious commitment to resolving the problem. 100%, no turning back. Easier said than done obviously. Making a written statement of what you will do can help. Some kind of symbolic act can also help communicate toe the unconscious your intention- it could be literally anything that feels meaningful. Next you have to develop awareness of the reasons behind the aversion. Journaling and a Jungian therapeutic method called "active imagination" can be good for this. Establish a dialogue with the parts of yourself that are producing the aversion, and work through them. Hope this helps.

[@igorg.8624]

@@akaATK What if I don't believe I can solve a complex problem by myself?