Tag: Present moment

At peace

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Peace can only exist in the present moment. It is ridiculous to say “Wait until I finish this, then I’ll be free to live in peace”. What is “this”? A diploma, a job, a house, the payment of debt? If you think that way peace will never come. There is always another “this” that will follow the present one. If you are not living in peace at this moment, you’ll never be able to. If you truly want to be at peace, you must be at peace right now. Otherwise there is only hope for peace “some day.” 

Thich Nhat Hahn, The Sun my Heart

Not more, but less

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When we seek happiness through accumulation, either outside of ourselves-from other people, relationships, or material goods-or from our own self-development, we are missing the essential point. In either case we are trying to find completion. 

Completion comes, not from adding another piece to ourselves,

but from surrendering our ideas of perfection

Mark Epstein, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective

As fluid as the ocean

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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

Sunday Quote: free

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If you know a view as a view, you can be free of that view.

If you know a thought as a thought, you can be free of that thought.

Norman Fischer, Beyond Language

Continual practice

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In Japan, cleaning is called “Soji” and valued as a way to cultivate our minds. Buddhist monks in a monastery put more time into practicing Soji than into practicing Zen meditation. A monk’s day begins with cleaning. We sweep the temple grounds and polish the temple building

One important thing Soji practice tells us is that we never complete cleaning. Just as leaves begin to fall after you sweep, desires begin to accumulate right after you refresh your mind. We continue cleaning the gloom in our hearts, knowing that we will never end it.

Shoukei Matsumoto, 1979 -,  author of A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind

A fixed gaze

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Rinzai Gigen, the founder of the Rinzai school of Buddhism, said: “Be master wherever you go – then wherever you are, things are as they truly are.”

This means that no matter the circumstances, if you try your best to do what you’re capable of in the here and now, you will realize your potential protagonist, or who you’re meant to be. A protagonist is not misled by information run rampant, does not allow their focus to be drawn this way and that. Their gaze is fixed steadily in one direction. A protagonist stands firmly on the ground, carving a path of their resoluteness. You could even say they are leading their life with certainty.

We are all capable of becoming our own protagonists, anytime and anywhere. But first, we must focus our efforts. Concentrate on the here and now.

Why not begin there?

Shunmyo Masuno, Don’t Worry