There's a Zen principle I've taken away from my time.
At a Zen monastery,
Daibosatsu Zendo.
And the principle is called.
.
.
Samu.
Which can be translated as work meditation.
There is.
Sitting meditation.
Zazen.
Walking meditation,
Kinhin,
Chanting meditation,
Eating meditation,
Work meditation,
Samu.
And it reminds me of an old.
.
.
Zen story.
In so many of these stories,
There's a student and a teacher.
The student asks a question.
And the teacher.
Offers some response of awakening.
So in this one the student.
Kill again.
Goes to his teacher Isan.
And Kyogen is very frustrated.
Because he has.
.
.
Learned so much about Zen and about Buddhism.
He studied all the ancient texts.
And he has a strong understanding conceptually.
But he still feels like he has not found what he's looking for.
And feels quite far away,
Actually,
From the Awakening or the Enlightenment.
That this practice and study is intended.
To offer him.
So he goes to his teacher.
And says What am I missing?
And the teacher says,
If you cannot find it.
In your studies.
Go and find it in your everyday life.
Sweep the walkway.
Do the dishes.
Fold your clothes.
If you can't find it in your studies and in your learning,
Go and find it in your everyday life.
So Kyogen commits to doing this.
For a while he gives up his intellectual studies and he.
.
.
Commits himself to being fully engaged in his everyday life.
And one day.
.
.
While sweeping the walkway.
He sweeps a piece of tile.
And it flies off and strikes against a bamboo tree.
And makes a certain sound.
And that sound.
Was the moment.
Of Kogan's Enlightenment.
