The key to engaged living is having a strong foundation. Building one's foundation takes time, patience, and effort, also known as sadhana (intense, regular disciplined practice; progressing towards one's ultimate expression of being). A key element of Zen-Budo practice is Shugyo, interpreted as intense training. In a traditional sense Shugyo refers to a warrior or monk leaving the comfort and security of his/her family/village/zendo/dojo and venturing out to test his/her grounding in the world beyond. Contemporarily, Shugyo is often considered synonymous with sadhana. In the context of Daishin Zen-Budo, sadhana is dedicated, routine practice and Shugyo is a more intense version of this, perhaps sesshin (intense zazen meditation practice), or randori (freestyle martial practice), typically training to near the point of exhaustion. The distinction is important. Sadhana is regular, typically daily, practice. Shugyo is intense, not daily practice, but still considered on a regular basis in order to test one's limits and increase one's skill. Sadhana is the building of the foundation, Shugyo is pushing and testing the limits of the foundation.
In order to practice in the manner of Shugyo, one needs a strong, stable foundation. This is typically established through the regular practice of yoga (procedures used to strengthen and purify the physical body, clarify and nurture the energy body, and reveal and increase awareness of the spiritual body). Keep in mind, the term yoga is used here in the broadest, traditional sense. The yogi will train the body/mind on a regular basis, sometimes in retreat, often as part of a daily routine. A complete yoga practice may include aspects of Aryuveda, Qigong, yoga-asana, pranayama, Tantra, and of course, meditation. Needless to say, yoga practice is sufficient in and of itself to condition and fortify the practitioner without any other practices. For the Zen-Budo practitioner it is typically a component of training that also includes Zazen, martial arts, Zen lifestyle routines, and perhaps artistic expression (music, poetry, sculpture, calligraphy).
In this current period of quarantine and lockdown, social distancing, and virtual sangha, most practitioners are prevented from or at least limited in group practices typical of Shugyo intensity. Therefore the time is ripe for yoga. This is the time to build one's foundation, keeping in mind it may be tested unexpectedly through the many challenges, physical and/or economic that we all face in this environment. One doesn't need to sit in sesshin or spar with a partner to be challenged. Coronavirus and economic upset are enough.
In order to practice in the manner of Shugyo, one needs a strong, stable foundation. This is typically established through the regular practice of yoga (procedures used to strengthen and purify the physical body, clarify and nurture the energy body, and reveal and increase awareness of the spiritual body). Keep in mind, the term yoga is used here in the broadest, traditional sense. The yogi will train the body/mind on a regular basis, sometimes in retreat, often as part of a daily routine. A complete yoga practice may include aspects of Aryuveda, Qigong, yoga-asana, pranayama, Tantra, and of course, meditation. Needless to say, yoga practice is sufficient in and of itself to condition and fortify the practitioner without any other practices. For the Zen-Budo practitioner it is typically a component of training that also includes Zazen, martial arts, Zen lifestyle routines, and perhaps artistic expression (music, poetry, sculpture, calligraphy).
In this current period of quarantine and lockdown, social distancing, and virtual sangha, most practitioners are prevented from or at least limited in group practices typical of Shugyo intensity. Therefore the time is ripe for yoga. This is the time to build one's foundation, keeping in mind it may be tested unexpectedly through the many challenges, physical and/or economic that we all face in this environment. One doesn't need to sit in sesshin or spar with a partner to be challenged. Coronavirus and economic upset are enough.
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