A reminder to hold our thoughts, ideas and, even our identity, somewhat lightly.

The Buddha once said in verse:

“Of various elements is this body of Mine composed.
The time of its arising is merely an arising of elements;
The time of its vanishing is merely a vanishing of elements.
As these elements arise, I do not speak of the arising of an ‘I’,
And as these elements vanish, I do not speak of the vanishing of an ‘I’.
Previous instants and succeeding instants are not a series of instants that depend on each other;
Previous elements and succeeding elements are not a series of elements that stand against each other.
To give all of this a name, I call it ‘the meditative state that bears the seal of the Ocean’.“

We need to make a diligent effort to fully explore these words of the Buddha.

Dogen, 1200- 1253, Shobogenzo