It is hard to believe that the practice can be reduced to something so simple, paying direct attention to the present moment – to this breath, this person, this walk, to this washing of the dishes. We imagine it should be something grander. It may be simple; however, it is not easy

One day a man asked Zen master Ikkyu, “Master, will you please write for me some pointers to the highest wisdom?”

Ikkyu immediately took his brush and wrote the word: “Attention.”

“Is that all?” asked the man. “Will you not add something more ?”

Ikkyu then wrote : “Attention. Attention. Attention.”