Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

There are so many ways we get trapped in life, take the bait. We all want so much from others, and when we give there's always the thought of what will come back. This craving to get something in return actually hooks us in another direction and ruins the joy available in just giving with open hands. No thought of receiving anything back. In Zen practice, we learn how not to take the bait! To be with each moment and action fully, wanting nothing more in return.

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We all want things to work out exactly as we want them to. When they don’t we try again, or develop new strategies. If that doesn’t work, we start blaming others, or ourselves. The great Zen teacher Joko Beck said that practice only begins when you’ve been disappointed enough. When that happens, you’re willing to give up all your strategies, stop imposing your will on life and to open to a harmonious life, lived from the bottom of your heart..

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We all want life to be perfect, work as as we wish. We will do anything possible so that we can experience a perfect afternoon, relationship or venture. And all the time we do not see that life is perfect as it is. Instead we hold fixed notions about how everything must work out. When it doesn't grief arises, shame, sorrow, anger. These fixed notions not only ruin our lives, but prevent us from seeing the amazing gifts we receive moment by moment.

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In our world of confusion and holding on, we long for things to stay stable. We need to know what we can count on, what is real and dependable. Yet Zen practice tells us to look beneath the appearance of things if we want to find what we can truly count on. That which comes must go, that which appears, changes. Constant change is inevitable and as we accept it and live as change itself, our life opens us, eases and a deeper reality appears.

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PART 2:
his Episode is in two parts. It's fascinating to notice that the natural world works together organically, in incredible harmony, intelligence. Night follows day, spring follows winter. Everything has a time and place and is allowed to function as it is intended. There's no competition between flowers for which is more beautiful. One tree does not try to squash another because it grows differently. In fact each supports the life of the other in a pattern way beyond our knowing. Why is this is not so in relationships? What is it that causes the constant disruption, friction, hurt and anger we experience with one another. How can it be dissolved so that our relationships, like everything else can return to the natural harmony? Perhaps this sounds impossible, but it is not. There is wisdom we can apply to our interactions that allows us all to make real room for everyone to be exactly as they are, including ourselves. We can find ways to make space to be together in a natural and healthy manner that allows to love and respect to appear.

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