(CAN’T) STOP THE THOUGHTS – Part 1
While sitting zazen,
Quiet body.
Quiet mind.
At least
That’s what I was hoping for.
Not that morning.
Quiet body,
But the mind – Ah,
Thoughts still come.
We’re human,
Thoughts don’t stop
Till we die.
That’s what I tell students.
I also tell them:
When you sit,
Let thoughts come –
Then cut them
With all your might.
Slash them
With your sword.
Do not hang on to them.
They’re in the past.
One morning while sitting,
These thoughts came:
Why am I here?
What is the meaning of life?
Questions people often ask
About their own lives,
Especially when facing a crisis or
Something serious.
How to answer
Such sobering questions?
Our minds raise the question.
And, we seek answers
Through senses and intellect.
But that’s not
Where true answers will be found.
Senses and Intellect
Provide conditional answers.
Senses and intellect
Provide incomplete answers.
Answers are not outside.
Answers are inside.
Not through senses.
Not through intellect.
Not through
The little “m” mind.
Answers are
Found in
The big “M” Mind.
To find the Mind,
Sit.
Quiet body.
Quiet mind.
Sit.
Let thoughts come.
Then cut the thoughts.
Sit.
(CAN’T) STOP THE THOUGHTS – PART 2
A trick of the mind.
Little “m”-mind asks
Why am I here?
What is the meaning of life?
But little “m” mind’s answer
Is not good enough:
It asks the question
And answers the question.
Zen Mind says:
Go deeper.
Go deeper.
Ask instead –
Why are you asking?
Ask instead --
Who’s asking?
Zen Mind
Demands
The answer
Comes from
Within.
Go deeper.
Go deeper.
So sit.
Just sit.
- Diane Wong Roshi
-Diane Wong Roshi
Comments