Working on Mu

One of the few books about Zen that I recommend you is Zen Training: Methods and Philosophy by Katsuki Sekida, and I once already referred to the chapter 'Working on Mu', now you can reread it.

What is Mu? This is the first koan, and Sekida gives the answer: '"Mu" means "nothing"'. And he is right: there is no point to hide the answer since you have to prove your competence only to yourself; and the answer, I believe, should be even more specific because Mu is the basis on which the further practice is built.

Mu is the sense of reality. It's like a metallic buzzing into the point Seika no Itten. Now if you stumble into the koan about the buzz of the metal saw, you know the answer. Mu at the same time is the sense of understanding; it's something about dharmas: the discrete nature of our perception.

Although Sekida suggests while working on Mu, to direct visual attention inward to the tanden, I believe that by doing this, there is a high risk that you'll find wrong things. Therefore, firstly, it's better to concentrate not on the whole tandem but on the point Seika no Itten. Secondly, since Mu is the sense of reality, it's better to keep your eyes open: at least in the beginning, I advise you to focus on some external object. Thus, you should be aware of your body and of the external world at the same time, which is possible if you feel like an immovable centre relative to which you move everything around (with the legs if you're walking.)


Working on Mu

When doing sitting zazen, concentrate on some external object: try to look at it from the point Seika no Itten (you can pinch and hold it with your fingers) through the eye sockets. As you exhale by the bamboo method, say m-n-n-n-n-n (you may do it just with your inside voice) and at the same time try to comprehend the object you're watching (Mu is the sense of understanding.)

[It should be noted that the opposite point on your spine is not suitable for working on Mu.]

Similarly you can do the Walking Zazen: as you exhale by the bamboo method at each step, say m-n-n-n-n-n - Mu is in the point Seika no Itten -  and at the same time try to comprehend the situation around as if you were making a snapshot of it.