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Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water.
Zen Proverb
A common misconception in following a spiritual life is the belief that in order to follow the practice that one must live in a cave, wear a saffron robe and beg for alms. This picture of a monk with a shaved head living in the mountains leads one to believe a spiritual practice is not possible unless one practices asceticism. This commitment level and practice is too much for some so they refrain completely from practicing a spiritual life. This all or nothing mentality creates a missing in a person’s life. It IS possible to have a spiritual existence without a shaved head and bamboo cup. Many masters in India as well as spiritual practitioners across the globe live a regular life with a family, and a job. How is such a life possible?
The essence of living a spiritual life is contained in the Zen quote “when hungry eat, when tired sleep.” Now before your mind reacts and you say to yourself….’Gee thanks for that incredibly obvious piece of wisdom.’ Look at this quote more closely, along with the initial passage above ‘before enlightenment chop wood, carry water…after enlightenment chop wood, carry water.’ Break life down into the simplicity of the present moment. As human beings we do not live in the present moment. We carry our past forward with us, we yearn for something in the future and all the time we miss what is in front of us at all times. Life is beautiful right in front of us at every moment. Focusing on this moment right now removes the mind from drifting to wants, needs, desires….all driven by the mind in search of attachment. With attachment comes suffering.
When I am in the mind-set of when hungry eat, when tired sleep I am fully present to the simple needs I actually have to survive and I am present to life AS it is happening. I can see a child’s smile across the park. I can see the bird in the tree. I can smell the lilac tree as I run by. I can feel the rain on my skin and the presence of the divine in every moment.
In the early days of the Zen monasteries, the number of monks grew to the point that it was necessary to split up tasks, chores throughout the day to keep the place running. It was impractical to have all sit in meditation all day as there was upkeep and food needed. The practice of meditation while awake and doing chores was brought into practice. This practice was a supplement to the actual sitting meditation with the intent to find PRESENCE at all times throughout the day. Do not let your mind wander. Bring it forth to the present moment be it listening to another, focusing on a task, or going for a walk.
The simplicity of a spiritual life is available for anyone, no shaved heads required. It involves staying present, getting the mind under control, practicing love and compassion. Clear your mind….Chop wood, Carry Water.
Call to Action:
- Create the distinction within yourself that YOU are a SPIRITUAL BEING. Once you declare this then you will look for actions consistent with this way of being.
- Stay present with what you are doing at all times. Be with people, Be with your task. Multitasking is overrated. It takes away from BEING PRESENT.
- Be LOVE
Thomas D. Craig
Author A Cup of Buddha
Writer.Seeker.Adventurer.Warrior
Fantastic post man!
Thx…..appreciate.
Wow, I love this! Thank you _/\_
thx…blessings
Reblogged this on istopforsuffering and commented:
Don’t miss this wonderful blog post.
Really great…thx….blessings to you
I really LOVE this!
It’s been some time that I live like that: “when hungry eat, when tired sleep”, and I like being like that. What made me feel guilty about it is my therapist who considers that being “passive”. She used to try and provoke reactions, she wanted actions and reactions to everything happening. where is the limit between being Spiritual then and being passive?
I couldn’t think of a more ACTIVE way of being than being present. It takes something to really generate presence…there is nothing passive about this at all. I say the same thing to those who say meditating is just sitting. Try doing this for 2 hours…it really takes something, one must be very active. WHen I read your comments about provoking reactions I think of the story “is that so?” This story shows that no matter what happens in our lives we can choose being present and non reactive, we can BE with whatever is brought our way. Thx for the comments and for what you are taking on in this world. You are a blessing. tc
🙂
I thought the same when I read “is that so” I thought, that is a Great man, and he just accepted. He is strong. Only strong people can do what he did. I mean that is what I believe. I live a very hard situation, but since I know I can’t change it, then I accept it and live with it. I don’t get it why it’s called “giving up?”
This is great….I cannot speak for Hakuin but my guess is that he didn’t view his life has difficult or having been dealt a bad hand, like you said he just accepted his life and was present with what was in front of him at all times. Great feedback…thx
I love it:
simple
practical
the truth
thanx
Francois
PS: I may want to quote it, ok?
By all means…thank you…be well
I love this post. I’m learning to practice mindfulness in my life and I am sensing a calmer sense of being. I call it taking a step back, taking a breath, and bringing awareness to the moment. Thank you for this article.
Great feedback…thx
this was great!
Thank you…..be well
Thanks….
Reblogged this on fibrohappiness.
Thanks for the repost…be well
Simply brilliant and beautiful post. Reblogging this on Zen Being with much gratitude.
Excellent…gratitude…thx…
All the mundane chores of modern life, and of olden times are reasons to get up each morning. The most miserable, depressed people are often those who can’t be bothered to get out of bed, open the windows, go to work, fix something nourishing, care for a garden, empty the trash etc. To cycle through these chores can seem endless, and meaningless. Yet this is the stuff of life. It is an illusion to think “if only I had ————-, I would be happy. It’s ok to let ones mind wander while completing tasks that don’t require ones full attention.”Be here now”, but go ahead and daydream. Do not lose sight of the fact that YOU ARE NEEDED to carry on the tasks of everyday life. Your house needs your attention, so does your garden, your loved ones, your community. You don’t have a house, garden, loved ones, community? You want to win the lottery to buy these things and hire others to do the work? You will never be content. Read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. It’s about more than trees. It’s about the bored, oftentimes greedy “boy” in all of us who just wants to be happy.
thank you for your words….very well thought out. tc
Reblogged this on Zen Being and commented:
Thank you, Zen Revolution, for a magnificently simple and beautiful post on Mindfulness Practice.
Blessings…..
Thanks for the reminder…was just thinking this morning how simply listening to the hammering outside my window as workmen add a second floor to the house next door was bringing me into the present, not annoying me…
Excellent…..was thinking something similar this morning. I had the window open and intial heard traffic, but after I let that settle I heard bird after bird flying by, it was great. great feedback…thx
I thought you might be interested to know that dilipnaidu (http://dilipnaidu.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/weekly-inspiration-a-zen-quote/#comment-2789) re-posted my re-posting of this post. So inspirational!! Thanks for a fantastic blog; I’m adding you to my Blogroll.
Great….thank you
Reblogged this on The Project Me and commented:
When I thought I felt lost in the routine of life, I found this one to tell me life is just as it is supposed to be. This moment onwards I shall try more to focus on the present.
This is great, thank you so much and thank you for who you are. I checked out your site…looks good. Keep being happiness and love.
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thx Shalini
Very nice… I think the important thing to take away is that be mindful about the present and not to worry about the past or future. This just reminds memy favourite lines from Kung Fu Panda: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.”
This is great Carrie…perfect. thank you….be well…be love….thomas
Thank you so much for sharing this captivating thought….truly divine:)
Blessings to you….thank you for your thoughts. Be well…Be love. Thomas
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thank you for your words….great thoughts. tc
Thank you.
You bet…blessings to you. thomas
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what a load of crap. Sounds like something a person would tell another in order to get them to shut up and get a job done that they dont want to do themselves so they trick someone else to do it mindlessly.
Kai,
Thank you for your response, I appreciate your passion.
With respect to your comments, there is no motivation to coerce another individual. In fact, the journey is about internal self discovery, never about dictating to another on how to do things. No tricks, no coercion…in the moment, present to the NOW. Thank you again for your words.
Coincidentally, I read your article. A similar kind of argument breaks out between my two friends….Now I got the answer from your article. You have made the wisdom more candidly….
Glad I could contribute, thanks for posting. Just curious, what was the argument?
Sir ,
What does this proverb mean ?
Before Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”?
Hello….do you still feel you wish to discuss the proverb?
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blessings….Thomas
I needed that. Thank you.
Blessings to you…
Before enlightenment: chop wood and carry Water
After enlightenment: Hire someone to chop wood and carry water
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thanks!
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Do you think that this is a shortened version of the Zen Proverb
“Before I studied Zen,” goes a famous Zen saying, “I saw mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers. When I had studied Zen for thirty years I no longer saw mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers. But now that I have finally mastered Zen, I once again see mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers.”
I found that on https://practiceofzen.com/tag/mountains-and-rivers/ and someone I know suggested that it might have been the original version of this.
Thank you Laura, great thoughts. I do not know which story came before the other, I only know both of these are typically listed in Zen proverbs, they do have similarities though don’t they? I guess there are many thoughts on this path that speak the same language. I love that they have the reader inspect within. Thank you again for sharing. Thomas