HI-SHIRYO, non-thinking

There is emotional feeling, plus and minus, like and dislike. And there is sensory feedback, information integrated primarily by the vestibular system.

There is intellectual thinking, thinking about this and that, worrying. And there is conscious volition, being clear about one’s own intention during some activity.

There is the kind of doing that involves great muscular exertion. And there is action as a spontaneous process, which seems effortless.

In clarifying the fundamental meaning of feeling, thinking, and action in Master Dogen’s rules of sitting-meditation, the most vital question to ask might be in regard to the meaning of HI-SHIRYO, non-thinking.

Does HI-SHIRYO express the end -- action which is different from thinking, spontaneous action itself, just sitting itself?

Does HI-SHIRYO express the means whereby the end may be realized -- thinking which is different from thinking, the intention to allow?

Does HI-SHIRYO include both meanings -- both sitting and thinking, sitting/thinking, sitting-meditation, without separation of end and means into two parts?