STUDENT:

You say we should approach sitting as a happy or precious time, and then just sit. Relax the body, keep good posture. Just watch your thoughts but do not follow them. If you get tired do deep breathing, and if you feel very tired, get up and do exercises, then sit again. If you really don't feel like sitting, then get up and do something else. You say these things and it is getting me more and more confused, because I remember you teaching me a different way. To whom are you directing this talk? Are you directing it to anyone who practices Ch'an, or is it strictly for beginners, or is it for those who have practiced a while and have been on retreats and know what to expect?

SHIH-FU:

The approach I described is for daily practice, not retreats. During retreat, the schedule is fixed. You sit when it's time to sit. On retreat there is a level of commitment and discipline that does not usually occur in daily practice. If you can carry that energy over into your daily life, that's very good. But I want people, especially beginners, to feel that daily practice is easy, comfortable, not difficult. If people use this approach, they won't put it off or give up. They will try and keep on trying. Gradually they will be able to practice steadily. Also, people during their daily routine can become tense, hectic, confused and nervous. If they want to practice, it is difficult to settle down right away. This is a good approach for those times. After they exercise or do slow walking meditation for a little while, they are more relaxed and it is easier to sit.

STUDENT: