Excerpt from zazen journal

9 July 2009
Thursday
8:58 a.m.

Still had a continuous stream of thoughts. About work, relationships, a dream of waiting at the airport (on the way to a place somewhere in Cambodia or Myanmar), the sitting itself. But a big difference from the previous zazen: the thoughts seemed to have less power this morning. And it was easier pulling back awareness to the breathing and the present. There was the same heat or warming up of the body toward the middle of the sitting. Felt it at the back first. Then it radiated to the abdomen and the arms. The pain from yesterday's workout lessened with the onset of this warming effect. There were some distinct moments of stillness, of open space. Came with two or three breaths at a time. Much focus on the breathing and the now. And everything seemed to have retreated in the background.

Much peace and tranquility.