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September 13 - October 5, 2022
Try not to be swayed by the values of others, not to be troubled by unnecessary concerns, but to live an infinitely simple life, stripped of wasteful things. That is “Zen style.”
In Japanese, the character for “busy” is written with the symbols for “lose” and “heart.” It’s not that we are busy because there isn’t enough time. We are busy because there is no room in our heart.
With every sweep of the broom, you clear out the dust in your mind. With every swipe of the cloth, your heart gleams brighter.
Do not allow yourself to be disrupted by your anxieties or troubles—the key to keeping your mind invigorated is to first put the things around you in order.
Life requires time and effort. That is to say, when we eliminate time and effort, we eliminate life’s pleasures.
“Eat and drink with your whole heart.”
There is a direct link between mind and body. When you hone your mind, your renewed vitality naturally shows in your body as well.
Rather than wait for the cloud to approach, strive to do now what needs to be done. If you work intently, you may forget how hot it is. Then, before you know it, the cloud will arrive and bring with it a refreshing coolness.
Each of us plays various roles in society. You may be an office worker, a mother, or a cook in a restaurant. These are, without a doubt, our various “selves.” But we each have another self, the true protagonist who lives within us. Do your best to awaken this other self.
There is no need to be troubled by things that have not yet happened. Think only about what is happening right now. Almost all anxieties are intangible. They are the invention of your own mind.
People who do their best to enjoy what is before them have the greatest chance to discover inner peace. Often, whatever it is they are enjoying—the thing before them—has the potential to turn into an opportunity. The place where you currently find yourself, the role you inhabit, the people you meet today, every little thing . . . you never know what might become an opportunity. Stop dismissing what it is that you’re doing, and start living.
When we work every day, we tend to become occupied with the tasks before us, and with the attendant gains. But I believe that the essence of work is to be found in Baizhang’s way of thinking. In that sense, try to see your work as samu, or mindful work. Think of it as something that will nurture or educate you. Only by thinking this way will you experience the true pleasure to be found in work.
Human beings, for the most part, are endowed with basically the same capabilities. So if there’s anything that differentiates the results we produce, it may be the mind-set in which each of us faces whatever task is at hand. Whatever it is you’re doing, be grateful for the opportunity. Be happy for the chance to do the work.
When you feel as though things aren’t going well, try scolding yourself in a loud voice. In Zen, we use the word katsu as an exclamation to scold practitioners when they are struggling on the path to enlightenment. A well-timed katsu can turn the tide. Cut off misfortune when it begins. And make sure to take advantage of good fortune. That is the secret to a good life.
There is abundance not in the accumulation of things, but in knowing how to use things well.
Be honest: Do you plant the seeds of your own anxiety? It’s a waste of time to get lost in a labyrinth of your own making. Instead, direct your energies to the reality you’re facing and take one step at a time.
Think of the things that are connected to you as parts of yourself. It’s rare to find someone who does not care about herself; once you acquire something and begin to take care of it, a love for it will spring up. What is most important is your attitude toward the things that belong to you.
By emptying our mind, we enable a state of nothingness. In the world of Zen, we call this mushiryo, or “beyond thinking.” It refers to a state in which we retain nothing within ourselves.
A state of utter clarity, uncomplicated by desire or any attachments—that is the state of “nothingness,” which Zen emphasizes above all else. This emptiness of thought is the basis for the teachings of the Buddha, and for his fundamental notions of impermanence and insubstantiality. The Buddha teaches that human suffering occurs when we lack awareness of this impermanence and insubstantiality.
We must recognize the individuality of ourselves and of others in order to get along. This is not to say that you must adapt to someone else, but by focusing on others’ merits, you can create a beautiful relationship.
In Buddhism we say, “All days are good days,” meaning that whether good things happen or bad, each day is precious because it will never come about again. The goodness of every day is determined not by what happens or by whom you meet, but by your own mind.
Through the practice of chisoku, we can achieve a calm and tranquil mind. By simply recognizing that we are fulfilled, our suffering is greatly diminished.
By fixating solely on the end point, you will forgo the pleasures of the journey. When you are caught up in producing results, you are unable to devote yourself to the here and now.
As human beings, we possess within us everything we need from the beginning. Enlightenment is not about seeking the answers outside of ourselves, but rather about looking inside.
The plum tree defies the cold winter, its blossoms giving off an indescribably lovely fragrance. The perfume does not push against the wind—it simply allows itself to be carried along on the current of the breeze. But the scent of a person of virtue wafts in every direction. A person’s charisma or aura is similar.
The strange thing about money is this: The more attached we become to it, the more it eludes our grasp. Instead of thinking about money, we should concern ourselves with our higher purpose.
However much the world changes, there are some things that remain the same. Namely, spring will arrive and the buds will sprout, and then autumn will descend and the leaves will fall. In other words, things will take their natural course. This is exactly what is meant by the character for the Buddha in Buddhism—仏—which signifies bliss, or the “Buddha nature” of things.
In other words, being alive means we must make the most of the life we are entrusted with. Life is not ours to possess—it is a precious gift that we must treat as if it were placed in our care. And whatever life span we are given, we must take the utmost care to give it back.
