The Painted Timbers, 47th Day of Childwinter, 526 M.E. (Electra): They're all saying the same thing, aren't they? "Go to a place that's neither hot nor cold." "Do not stay where buddha exists and run quickly from where no-buddha exists." Same thing. I was taught in the Soto Zen tradition and didn't do koan practice, but it seems to me that once you've solved one koan, you've essentially completed them all.

Here's a koan for you: Since the future is very much uncertain and we cannot foresee what will happen next, how should we live this day today? 

These awful times we live in. Today's headlines: Critics accuse administration of cooking the books in claims of cost savings from climate finding reversal. Vaccine makers curtail research and cut jobs amid hostile policies. Shooting at Rhode Island ice rink leaves at least two people dead. US teen who pushed for her father’s release from ICE custody dies of cancer. Producer of Israeli spy thriller found dead in Athens hotel room. Russian dissident Alexi Navalny poisoned by frog toxin, postmortem shows.  Actor Robert Duvall dead at age 95. Documentary film-maker Frederick Wiseman dead at age 96. 

As tennis player Coco Gauff recently put it, "I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing." I agree. 

Life-and-death is the great matter and impermanence is swift. Our life changes moment by moment and it flows by swiftly every day. This is the reality before our eyes. In every moment, do not expect tomorrow will come.