My capping phrase for the week of 9/13
In Zen there are only two things: you sit, and you sweep the garden" - Oda
Sesso
This statement, short though it is, has always spoke volumes to me. In fact the last three words "sweep the garden" could stand alone in its sublime subtleness. To me it says that any of our actions through out the day are a form of Zen meditation regardless of what they seem to others around us or whether or not we realize that they are ourselves. From a distance, it may seem that I am cleaning out my car or washing dishes or sweeping but in my mind I am staring at a wall, following my breath - even if I don't realize it.
I may only have 15 minutes in the morning to actually sit and meditate but my entire day is one long sesshin with countless opportunities to follow the Way - countless opportunities to be engaged - countless opportunities to live the Bodhisattva ideal (this is not to say that I am successful, only that the opportunities are there for me to attempt it). One doesn't need to attend extensive retreats or teisho or talks or even be well-read in the Dharma. We really don't need much more than we already have in front of us to practice correctly and seriously. So when sitting no longer helps you to realize your Buddha-Nature; sweep the floor. When the floor is clean then wash the dishes. Some of us sit for our entire lives. For some the floor never gets clean.
...and just like with my floor; neglect leads to more dirt, more dust. Wonderful! More Sweeping!
Cheers,
[ I am currently doing a 100 day "virtual" retreat with Wild Fox Zen. Practice will consist of daily sitting, chanting of the Heart Sutra, explorations into the Genjokoan as well as occasional webinars and weekly posts. I previously did something similar with Chalip's 108 Days. I would recommend this sort of retreat to any rural or isolated home-practitioner that would like some more intensive practice. Posts will be short and blunt. Feel free to comment. Any insight will only help further my practice and will be much appreciated.]
As far as sweep the garden goes, I've always liked the "chop wood, carry water" line, but sweeping the garden is growing on me.....
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the Wild Fox link. the next time you find one of these, let me know. In the upcoming weeks i'm going to be focusing on a new sangha that my wife and I will be joining. I need to explore that first, and figure it out before I jump into something like this. But the Wild Fox web-retreat is exactly the type of thing I was talking about, and thank you for posting it!!!!