Ashes

Somebody comes into the Zen Center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha-statue, blows smoke in its face and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?

This person has understood that nothing is holy or unholy. All things in the universe are one, and that one is himself. So everything is permitted. Ashes are Buddha; Buddha is ashes. The cigarette flicks. The ashes drop.

But his understanding is only partial. He has not yet understood all things are just as they are. Holy is holy; unholy is unholy. Ashes are ashes; Buddha is Buddha. He is very attached to emptiness and to his own understanding and thinks that all words are useless. So whatever you say to him, however you try to teach him, he will hit you. If you try to teach him by hitting him back, he will hit you even harder. (He is very strong.)

How can you cure his delusion?

Since you are a Zen student, you are also a Zen teacher. You are walking on the path of the Boddhisattva, whose vow is to save all beings from their suffering. This person is suffering from a mistaken view. You must help him understand the truth: that all things in the universe are just as they are.

How can you do this?

If you find the answer to this problem, you will find the true way.

- Zen Master Seung Sahn

That was today's dharma lesson. Today was also a day chock full of conference calls, due deliverables, requests for proposals, and project kick-off meetings. After a four-day weekend, I worked one day this week, and now I'm off for the next four. So in effect, I attempted to swallow one whole week of work in one day. It was a tall glass of water.

Tomorrow morning, I leave for the Cayman Islands. Three days of scuba diving. I'm bringing my camera and will take (and post) lots of pictures, but it will likely be a few days before the posts go on line. So go ahead and take a break - you deserve it. Reading all these posts of mine . . . you're like a crazy person! Go outside, get some fresh air. Go play with your friends. Come back, say, Sunday or Monday, and I should have something posted by then.

(Gassho.)