When we do not expect anything we can be ourselves. That is our way, to live fully in each moment of time. This practice continues forever.
Suzuki Roshi
Nothing Extra
Nothing Extra, a name offered to us by Flint, began in March 2016. It evolved from our sister group ‘Nothing Missing’.
We started as a group of members unable to attend regular meetings in Lancaster. We wished to practise together more frequently and locally. We began sitting in each other’s homes and gradually moved to a beautiful space in the Xaverian Centre in Preston. Over time the commitment within the group has grown and practice deepened. We have kept constant liaison with, and had guidance from, the groups in Lancaster and Sheffield who both feel like elder siblings. Online meetings have enabled us all to loosen geographical boundaries and to meet with others across the sangha community. We actively participate in the sangha meetings, retreats and events held by the wider sangha.
Nothing Extra is currently led by an experienced student with guidance from Josh, supported by the sangha community.
Our practice reminds us to live this life as it is and as we are. We do not have to be anything other than be ourselves. As we practise, the effort we put into our practice can lead us astray. We may set off with some goal in mind – with some idea of what we are going to achieve – of how we are going to better ourselves.
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, reminds us in ‘Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind’:
‘If your practice is good, you may become proud of it. What you do is good but something more is added to it. Pride is extra, Right effort is to get rid of something extra.’
He continues:
‘So try not to see something in particular; try not to achieve anything special. You already have everything you need in your own pure quality.’
We are enough just as we are and when we practise zazen we are just sitting, when we practise walking, we are just walking. We need nothing extra.