do i have to be sitting on a buckwheat-hull-filled zafu facing a blank wall to practice zazen?

that’s what a big part of me thinks. when in fact, i can actually get a good posture sitting on the edge of my office chair at work. but then there is no blank wall to face in my 4 by 6 cubicle. how can i sit shikantaza with all the distracting things on my desktop and walls?

i can. i can face the rear of my cubicle where i have my bonsai tree and inspirational items setup as an informal alter area.

ok, but what about all the sounds coming from all the other cubicles and offices? so much for ‘silent sitting’!

where did i get the notion that all my sittings have to be silent? they don’t. just as all days don't have to be sunny to say they are ‘good’ days.

this reminds me of a basho quote:

“clouds come from time to time and bring a chance to rest from looking at the moon”