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They say that the eminent monk Rennyo picked up a scrap of paper lying in the hallway one day and said, “Even this scrap of paper is given to us by the Buddha and must not be wasted.” The Japanese idea of not being wasteful is not just about avoiding waste—it also embodies a spirit of gratitude toward objects.
Within any object can be found the tremendous time and effort put into it—the “heart” of the person who made it. It’s important to remember to feel grateful for this when cleaning or tidying, and not handle things carelessly.
cleaning quietly while the silence envelops you—before other people and plants awaken—refreshes and clears your mind. By the time everyone else is emerging, you’ve finished your cleaning and are all set for the day’s work. Cleaning in the morning creates a breathing space for your mind so you can have a pleasant day.
Cleaning is a way to converse with nature. If we keep this idea in mind, then it is clear that aspects of modern life such as air-conditioning, which creates the same environment throughout summer and winter, amount to a refusal to communicate with nature. Becoming used to this will surely lead to the weakening of the body and the mind. When it’s hot, it should be hot. When it’s cold, it should be cold.
Open a window and interact with nature. Become aware that you are too weak to live in the same environment as living things in the wild. Experience the gentleness and severity of nature against your skin, and feel grateful for the preciousness of the life force. Each morning, open the windows that connect you to nature and inhale the fresh air.
Zengosaidan is a Zen expression meaning that we must put all of our efforts into each day so we have no regrets, and that we must not grieve for the past or worry about the future.
Zengosaidan. This isn’t just about how you feel. Do what you need to do without delay. Eliminate the seeds that distract your mind with unnecessary thoughts about things you will be dealing with tomorrow or things that went wrong yesterday. The longer you neglect the impurities of the heart, the harder it is to remove them. Never put off what you need to do until tomorrow, and enjoy each and every day.
Ingredients like konbu (a variety of kelp) and shiitake mushrooms are popular with many of the monks I am acquainted with for the exquisite dashi soup stock that they can produce. Once you become used to a diet based on mild vegetables, the ability to identify even the most subtle of flavors with your tongue enhances the joy of eating, greatly improving your sense of taste.
It goes without saying that dust will accumulate in a home that is never cleaned. Just as you have finished raking the leaves, more are sure to fall. It is the same with your mind. Right when you think you have cleaned out all the cobwebs, more begin to form. Adherence to the past and misgivings about the future will fill your head, wresting your mind from the present. This is why we monks pour ourselves heart and soul into the polishing of floors. Cleaning is training for staying in the now. Therein lies the reason for being particular about cleanliness.
Nowadays products are designed for easy use and easy disposal. In such a world, we cannot really expect that people will have a deep appreciation for the things they consume.
changing what you wear when a new season comes is beneficial in another, deeper way. When you mark the changing of the seasons with a change in your clothes, you can also refresh your heart.
At the Pure Land Buddhism Temple of Hongan, monks change into a different set of clothes twice a year on the first of June and the first of October. When changing into her new season’s clothes, the grandmother of Komyoji Temple (actually the chief priest’s mother) always says, “Looks like I get to do this again this year” in a graceful tone, reflecting both on the flow of time and on the turn of the season. It is important to express gratitude at the changing of the seasons. Only those who do this truly know how to achieve closure in their feelings.
If you use an object for as long as you can, carefully repairing it when necessary, you will find that not only your relationship with objects begins to change but so will the way you relate to people. This will help return your heart to a pure state. Rather than chasing after the new, live a life in which you use the same objects for a long time. If you do this, you will naturally be able to care for and treasure the people around you as well.
People who endlessly chase after new things have lost their freedom to earthly desire. Only those who can enjoy using their imaginations when working with limited resources know true freedom.
Your garden is a place where you can get in touch with nature. Humans can’t survive for long out in the wilderness, but we also can’t survive without it. The garden is where we can observe and learn about the delicate balance that allows us, and indeed our plants, to exist.
Because our gardens are a part of nature, they never look exactly the same twice. Start by listening to the voices of the vegetation around you. Notice how the voice within you responds. Your garden is a place where your body and soul can be in dialogue with your surroundings.
Even at home you can show your gratitude before and after meals by putting your hands together and reciting a Buddhist prayer. Here are two of the traditional prayers. Shokuzen—before meals: “Many lives, and much hard work, have gone into the blessing that is this meal. I will show my appreciation by enjoying this food with a deep sense of gratitude.” Shokugo—after meals: “I thank you for the wonderful meal, with deep gratitude, respect, and reverence.”
