I figure the name of my blog requires a bit of an explanation…

A kyosaku is a stick used in Zen meditation to assist a practitioner in meditating by giving them a smack on the shoulder. It is used by an experienced person who supervises the zendo (meditation hall). The stick can be used to get you out of a rut in meditation, straighten your posture, ward of sleepiness, or any other number of things. It is only used on people who have requested it, and is not a punishment, but an aid to deepening.

For more information…

http://www.sotozen-net.or.jp/kokusai/mannersinzendo02.htm

Even in a practice as seemingly solitary as meditation, there is room for us to be watched by one who knows, and corrected when we need it.

¶ 10:00 AM