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STUDENT A I 97I have pain in my legs, but it is bearable. I am not bothered by manythoughts and my concentration is fairly good. But I really don'tknow what my aim in sitting is.ROSHI: The first aim of sitting is to unify the mind. For the averageperson, whose mind is being pulled in many directions, sustained concentrationis virtually impossible. Through the practice of zazen themind becomes one-pointed so that it can be controlled. This processcan be likened to utilizing the sun's rays through a magnifying glass.When the rays of the sun are fo cused they become, of course, moreintense. The human mind too functions more efficiently when it isconcentrated and unifted. Whether your desire is to see into yourSelf-nature or not, you can appreciate the effect on your well-being ofmind integration.STUDENT: Yes, of course. Now, I was sitting quietly doing zazen,and then I had a great deal of pain. I didn't know whether I ought totry to endure the pain or to give up when it got too intense. My realproblem, in other words, is this: Should I bring my will to bear orshould I sit passively, without forcing myself?ROSHI: This is an important problem. Eventually you will reachthe point where you can sit comfortably, free from strain or pain.But from long habit of misusing our body and mind, in the beginningwe must exert our will before we can sit with ease and equilibrium.And this inevitably entails pain.When the body's center of gravity is established in the region justbelow the navel, the entire body functions with greater stability. Thecenter of gravity in the average person is in the shoulders. Moreover,instead of sitting and walking with an erect back, most people slump,placing an inordinate strain on all parts of the body.We likewise mis-employ our mind, playing with and harboringall kinds of useless thoughts. This is why we have to make a determinedeffort to use the body and mind properly. At fmt it is unavoidablypainful, but if you persevere, the pain will gradually giveway to a feeling of exhilaration. You will become physically strongerand mentally more alert. This is the experience of all who do zazenregularly and devotedly.* * *ROSHI: Is there anything you want to ask?STUDENT: Yes, I have several questions. The first is: Why did you