“There is nothing more lonely than living alone
There is nothing more tranquil than living alone
The tranquility more than makes up for the loneliness.”
Santoka Taneda
Japan’s Most Beloved Modern Haiku Poet
“It’s not that I’m afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Woody Allen
“We often have the feeling, about one thing or another in our lives: If only this weren’t here, I
would be happy. If only I weren’t afraid, or angry, or lonely. If only I didn’t have to do the dishes,
or take out the trash, or do my income tax. If only I weren’t old, if I weren’t sick, if I didn’t have to
die. But those things are here. This is the situation as it is. And none of it keeps you from
practicing. None of it keeps you from being happy. It is what you do with it that makes a
difference. And the thing to do with it is always the same. Give yourself to it completely.”
Larry Rosenberg
“There are no holy places, and no holy people, only holy moments.”
Buddha
One of my favorite teachings comes from the founder of Soto Zen in Japan, Dogen Zenji. As
young man, he travelled to China in search of a true Zen Master. At the time, the monasteries in
Japan were fraught with political overtones. Dogen realized that the true teaching from the
Buddha was severely compromised. Just prior to his arrival at a famous Chinese Monastery, he
met an old monk/cook who had walked considerable distance to purchase mushrooms for a
soup dish he was preparing. Dogen and the monk engaged in dharma conversation for a brief
period. The monk then announced that he must leave immediately. Dogen said “Well, can’t
someone else prepare the meal for this evening? We are having such a meaning fun
conversation.” The cook smiled and replied, “There is a lot you do not understand about correct
practice.” Dogen assumed that sutra study and intellectual absorption was what he was after by
coming to China. This is what he deemed to be important. Certainly cooking was not part of
that.
The Guiding Teacher and Abbot of the Monastery never thought that manual labor of any sort
was somehow inferior to sitting in the meditation hall. During the years that Dogen spent at the
Monastery he came to realize that being a “Tenzo” (head cook) was an honor.
After his return to Japan, Dogen wrote a very detailed book titled Instructions To The Cook.
Specific to the book was the teaching: “ Do not make distinctions in the kitchen or anywhere
else.”
Take as much time and care in preparation with leftovers of wilted greens as you would with an
elaborate meal prepared for dignitaries. Give total respect and attention to whatever you are
doing in each moment. The capping phrase to this story, even though he said it centuries earlier
comes from the Buddha:
“Blessings come from care, troubles from carelessness.”
Buddha