Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

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We all want things to work out exactly as we want them to. When they don’t we try again, or develop new strategies. If that doesn’t work, we start blaming others, or ourselves. The great Zen teacher Joko Beck said that practice only begins when you’ve been disappointed enough. When that happens, you’re willing to give up all your strategies,  stop imposing your will on life and to open to a harmonious life, lived from the bottom of your heart.. 

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We all want life to be perfect, work as as we wish. We will do anything possible so that we can experience a perfect afternoon, relationship or venture. And all the time we do not see that life is perfect as it is. Instead we hold fixed notions about how everything must work out. When it doesn't grief arises, shame, sorrow, anger. These fixed notions not only ruin our lives, but prevent us from seeing the amazing gifts we receive moment by moment.

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Life presents many different kinds of moments and situations to us, but there is basically On Way to respond. In zen practice we bow a great deal. Sometimes we bow to the floor, making an offering of ourselves to life. Other times, we bow to our cushions, another person, a flower or to a moment of kindness we have received. Bowing says many things. It says thank you deeply, it says I acknowledge you, I honor the moment we are sharing now. When we truly bow to another, although they may not see it, they will feel it right away. Our interaction will be altered and harmony will be restored.

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The Great Way is all around us, and as we walk on it, we cannot stumble or get lost. Zen practices takes us right there, clears the weeds from the other paths we follow, opens our eyes, our minds and hearts. Especially in times of uncertainty The Great Way is a deep refuge from pain. It opens the door to life as it is, removes pointless daydreams and fantasies and helps us see what is truly needed right here, today.

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What happens when the world as we’ve known it suddenly vanished and much of what we’ve held onto for security and identity slips away? This is a great Zen moment. An opportunity to look deeply at where true security waits and what the world really is. Then as a new moment arises we can be at home wherever we are.

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Usually we feel it's up to us to make everything right. We have something to say about everything, decide what is and isn't right. But as we interfere, we often take actions that get in the way and mess things up. In this beautiful, simple step, we learn how to take our hands off, step back, not interfere. We stay present, do not withdraw, but allow the natural intelligence of life and events to hold sway.

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In the midst of our endless rush to do something, change life, stay safe and protected, there is one within who is "not busy", not rushing around. And yet this one, takes care of everything. It hears all our cries, meets all our needs, allows us to see clearly and respond constructively. Zazen practice takes us directly to the one who is not busy, as we stop our mad dashing around and rest in its wisdom. Find out more on the podcast.

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Zen koans are a wonderful way to address problems. We cannot understand them logically or figure them out. Just like the times we are now faced with, we must find a new way to respond to them. To discover an answer that frees us all. The koan above is a homegrown koan, for today. When a mountain of fear, difficulty or unknown pain accosts us, when we handle it in the usual way, more frustration and difficulties arise. There is another way however, to allow ourselves to be with the problem. This way provides strength, courage and even happiness during a difficult time.

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It is said that the real cause of all suffering and hardship is that we are not able to be in a room alone with ourselves for an extended time. How easy it is to see that now that the usual routines of our lives have been disrupted. Much that we have depended upon is being taken from us now. Not only are we forced to live more simply, but also see who we truly are. A lot of panic arises, not only from fear of illness, but from  facing ourselves and those we are close to. When we do not have our usual routines and distractions to turn to, so many feel alone and at a loss. But this time is also a great opportunity to become our own best friend. To spend time alone with ourselves, and find that which will never leave us. That which we can always depend upon. 

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