Hui Neng taught “My seeing is to see constantly my own errors. I do not see other people’s right and wrong, and then in turn judge others according to a self centered projection or assessment.” Make no mistake, we live in a dualistic world. At the core of zen teaching is to respond to things “just as they are.” Most individuals however find it easy and all too convenient to project their ego driven judgments into matters. Most often this is done as a means of self justification. When you are mindful, and not attempting to reshape and remake events to establish some sort of idealized comfort zone, you are then quite literally living the teaching. Sad to say, most individuals cannot resist the dichotomy of separating their meditation cushion time and their everyday life.
Please understand that you will never awaken with concepts. You cannot function freely if mentally caught on anything. Your chi, or life energy becomes stagnant. The golden rule is not to rely on anything external as a means of waking up.
Words themselves never substitute for the actual truth. Unfortunately, this is the modus operandi of the human ego. Like Hui Neng said above, quit blaming things you don’t like on situations and conditions outside yourself.
You must cultivate within. Stop leaking your chi energy to these nonstop external scenarios. The Buddha often stressed this by teaching not to overuse the skandas. Skandas is a Sanskrit word meaning “doors of perception.” Seeing, hearing, tasting touching, smelling and cognition.
In zen practice, thinking is simply regarded as a function of our humanity. Learning how to regard and discipline your mind is imperative. When sitting in meditation, never interpret your effort as a device to “bliss out.” Zen as a practice is not to stop or inhibit in a stagnant way. Conversely, learning to be present in each moment whether sitting, standing, lying down or in movement should be your aspiration.
The rewards are exponential. When living life from a centered fulcrum, catching immediately then letting go of all ego centered ideas, judgments and concepts, you can then accomplish all things in your path with grace, poise, and equanimity.
Ji Haeng Zen Master – The Desert Dragon