Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

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We spend so much time waiting for things to turn out as we want them to. There is a constant demand made upon life that it fulfill "my" wishes... And when it doesn't, when something unexpected or unwanted wanted happens, we start to fight it, try to change it, feel like failures.  Then we spend endless time trying to figure out what things turned out that way. Of course there is no logical, rational answer. What we do not realize is that each moment is always fresh and different. What we wanted one moment changes the next. What we didn't want also changes. The art is to enjoy each moment that comes and that goes, to allow it to teach us, enrich us. As we sit we learn to see the freshness, not only of each moment, but of our lives, not blur everything together. A wonderful saying is: "If I have not seen you for three days, it cannot be said I now know you."

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Devotion is an odd word these days when change and variety have become something many strive for. But even when we go from one experience and project to another,  a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment are often missing. The power of devotion is different. When devoted to a person, cause, vision or activity not only are we committed, but enjoy the love that devotion brings. In all kinds of circumstances devotion persists and accompanies us through the most difficult of times. That is because we are focused upon something beyond our own immediate satisfaction and please.  We have offered ourselves in an unconditional way that can be depended upon. And as we do, failure is impossible. The devotion itself brings a sense of completion and wholeness, no matter how things work out.  It's wonderful to explore where you are devoted in your life, to whom or to what?

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The world seems upside down today. The lines between sanity and madness are blurry and many feel anxious and confused. And, all the while harmony, clarity and even joy are right here with us. It is not difficult to step out of the world of madness, can be done, breath by breath. The path to sanity is right where we are every single moment, and we can walk on it in ease. There's no need to struggle for it, it is simply a matter of taking charge of our attention. What are we paying attention to, what are we believing, how are we handling the endless emotions that arise and seem to take us over. When we answer these basic questions, it is clear that nothing can take us over. Our life is always in our hands. 

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Usually whatever happens we want to change it, fix it, do something about it. We want to control our experience, take charge and even dominate it. When we react in this manner, we are always looking for what's wrong. Our day becomes a battle between one problem and another. Rather than just "allowing" the day to appear as it does, for experiences to come and go, everything becomes a power struggle. We are desperate to make everything as "we like it" and to push away what we consider unpleasant.  This approach to life, makes us tense, angry and often feeling like a failure. There is a radically simple and yet wonderful way to release this on going stress. Engage in the great act of "allowing".. Allow each person to be who they are, allow each moment to do what it does. Become a beholder and allow life to live.  As we do this, things open up, come and go naturally. They reveal who they are and what they truly want of us. And in the process harmony and well rule the day.  

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So often we go searching wildly  for something we think we lack. Suddenly, we want it badly, and we'll do everything we can to find it, look everywhere. Hours can go by as we engage in the search,  even days.  Perhaps we are reading a book and an idea hits us. We feel we must know more, find another book with more information about it.  Swept away in the search it is easy to forget where we are right now, and what is here, right under our eyes. Even though we may be holding the book in our hand, we never think of turning the page. The very next page, and the ones that follow may contain all that we are hungering for.  The other day this happened to me. Hours passed as I searched everywhere and put the book I had down beside me.  Hours later I returned to the book, picked up where I'd left off and to my amazement, found all I needed, and more,  right there.  How often this happens in our life. So important to stay right where we are and see what we find when we just turn the page.

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We all believe we are outside, looking in.  There's a sense of separation from what  that which we want to belong to. We have to earn admittance, be approved of, or struggle hard to join in. But our Zen practice tells us that we are already part of life, on the inside. We all belong. Once this false sense of separation and  unworthiness dissolves we can live freely and be who we are. As long as the sense of isolation and searching for acceptance goes on, difficulty and pain arises. When we feel we don't have enough, or aren't enough, our hunger to find what we need outside of ourselves increases.  However, when we realize that we already participate with life's bounty and wisdom, wherever we go, we are at home. And can also welcome others into our lives.

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It's impossible for the Truth or Reality to be hidden or hide forever. For a certain period of time we can run from it, pretend things are different than they are. We can live in dreams or fantasies, or try to explain everything that goes on.  Sooner or later, though, the bare truth of our lives appears. For some this is shocking, hard to absorb. For others, it is a great relief from the exhaustion of pretending or straining to control what is here, right before our eyes. As we step back from constant reaction,  from manouevering, and clinging to one outcome or the next, a great awareness can come to us. Along with this comes a sense of joy and peace.  It can indeed be startling to realize that life is completely different than we imagined, much more beautiful. To allow the truth to reveal itelf, to make room for truth to speak is a great gift we give to all, and a great delight as well.

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We usually think that life (and practice) must be filled with suffering, struggle and strain.  There is so much we must do, and so little time to do it. And, what if the opposite is true? There is so little to do and endless time to enjoy each moment, person and day.  What if all was already done and here for us to enjoy it?  When we enter the true spirit of Zen, and of the flowing streams of each day, it is  wonderful to taste how delicious life is, and filled with endless surprises and joy. This joy heals and uplifts, gives us our true direction. That is the natural face and heart of the day and of each of us. Whatever keeps us away from this, can be easily swept away. It is simply the believing in the necessity for struggle and failure, pain and effort that  disarms us. It is the fear of stepping out of our usual pathway, sitting for a few moments at the edge of the stream and truly taking real breaths,  and relishing the life that has been given.

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We all long to be unshakeable during a time of shaking and change. The search goes on endlessly for a place we can stand firmly, something we can trust and depend on to navigate through uncertain times.  It is natural to run here and there trying to find a safe and sturdy place. Where we belong. Yet, the unexpected truth is,  the more we search, the shakier we become. That is because we are looking in the wrong direction. It is not possible to find that kind of stability in a world outside that consists of nothing but change. And yet, the unshakeable road is ever available. We need simply turn in another direction, become still, open and silent and look within. To our amazement, the more we stop searching outside,  running to and fro,  the clearer, calmer and happier we become. That which cannot be taken from us, that which is consistent and illuminating is right here within. What a joyous discovery.  Life takes a brand new turn. 

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So many of us feel stuck, unable to move on. We are clinging to the way things used to be or the way we feel we need things to be in order to move on. Somehow we have not realized that we are only clinging to a dream. Each moment must be different, life is a process of endless change. And that is beautiful, giving us room to to live anew, again and again.  Rather than fear change, Zen practices shows us how to step right into it. Put your attention upon this moment,  upon this very step, this very person and let it be just as it is. Taste it fully. Don't hold back. Don't wait for the perfect person or situation to arise. Each moment is the perfect moment. Each person is the perfect person. Meet them, greet them fully. Let go of old expectations of people and things, and take a radical turn in the road where you greet each moment, just as it is. Where you welcome it, taste it fully. And allow the next moment to arise as it will. Not only will this bring a great feeling of safety and balance, but it will allow you to enjoy and be part of the great river of life. No way you can feel stuck or left out then.

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